The South Side Streets

For this week, I decided to highlight my neighborhood. The streets that I live on have a 'melting pot' style of living that I've never encounter in any other part of the city. If you walk the main strip long enough, you start to spot the many differences, and I've learned that it took many years to get to where we are today. So, let me share some findings while I include a few street photos that I snapped.

According to the history, the foundations of South Side Pittsburgh started way back in 1763, when King George III gave John Ormsby about 2400 acres along the Monongahela River as payment for his service during the French and Indian War. The 2400 acres were divided into South Pittsburgh, Birmingham, East Birmingham, and Ormsby. [South Side Facts]

In 1862, those four boroughs were annexed into the City of Pittsburgh, at which point, it became the beginning of South Side. The area became known for its glass industry in the first part of the 1800s. However, by the 1920s, most of the glass factories moved away from South Side, thanks to high taxes and limited real estate. [South Side Facts]

In 1854, B.F. Jones and James Laughlin began American Iron Works, which became the Jones & Laughlin Steel Company in 1902. J & L would use the rivers to bring the raw materials and ship the final products of the steel company. [South Side Facts]

In 1873, steel began being manufactured at the J & L South Side Works. Materials were transported across the Hot Metal Bridge. By 1949, J & L spanned 100 acres of the south shore of the Monongahela River. [South Side Facts]

In 1986, the last J & L South Side Works facility shut down and all the buildings were demolished. However, the area soon became the location of new businesses, homes, jobs, and recreation. [South Side Facts]


Now, South Side is the location of about 10,000 people and home to one of the largest Victorian
streets in the United States: East Carson Street. The entire street is, in fact, designated as a historic district. In recent years, it has become the home of large student populations because of the easy commute to the large universities in the area. [Wikipedia]

Living here today, it feels like a meld between the young and the old. The historic locations and buildings feel as if you're walking through the late 1800s and early 1900s, however the attraction of the younger population has helped to create a younger vibe among the businesses and residential areas.

More images can be found in my gallery. Sorry for not having more. I'd like to do a follow-up and explore more of the historical aspects next time.

Until then.

Escape to the City: Part 1

I believe I mentioned before that I made it my goal this year to try my hand at a little street photography in my spare time. Well, that's exactly what I've been working on here and there. My first round of photos are still in the final stages of being edited, which will hopefully soon go up on my website, along with some updates to the format of my photography portfolio, which is much needed.

I took to the streets as an exercise to clear my mind and some toxicity that I had been feeling. Just doing a little sightseeing can really do some good when you are in a bad place. There's something about the downtown when the sun goes down and the artificial lighting everywhere bursts into a character of color and expression.

Observing the lighted paths, ambient noises, night crowds, lingering traffic...something about it stimulates me. Through a camera lens, a new life is formed and observed in ways that a naked eye could not perceive and the unassisted mind could not comprehend.

I didn't really have any particular pattern or technique as to how I was shooting the buildings or streets around the city. I simply walked a predetermined path downtown and found what looked visually appealing.

So, maybe I'm not the person to ask what determines street photography. According to a quick Google search, street photography, also know as candid photography (in some respects), have no determined conditions met within a public place. It is defined by chance encounters in the urban environment. Actually, street photography doesn't even have to take place in an urban environment to be considered street photography. To sum it up to the best of my ability, it is simply a result of a public record in a natural situation. [What is Street Photography?]

It cannot, in any part, be staged. Otherwise, it is no longer something that is candid by nature. Everything is real. These are pictures that capture a reality in its rawest form. With that, there is a sense that we could see the best and the worst in humanity in just one instance. You've those images that capture significant moments in our history, such as The Burning Monk, by Malcolm Browne. How does that make you feel? That moment happened. That man was burning alive. He died in that very spot. This is the raw energy that can be felt in the unstaged moments of candid photography.

Granted, anything that I captured isn't nearly as dramatic, but that example was used to drive home

the idea of the possibilities of street photography.

I hope to continue this adventure through the seasons this year. If you like what you see, let me know. If you don't, tell me how I can make it better.

More selections from the streets can be found in my updated gallery:
https://www.secroner.com/-street-photography

Until the next excursion.

The great photo migration of 2018: RIP Flickr account

Flickr is dead to me. No, really. As of this year, I cancelled my Flickr Pro service and began migrating everything off of the platform.

This is the end of an era, as I've been using Flickr since I purchased my my Canon T2i back in 2010.

While the service has definitely served its purpose, I am trying my best to unify the tools and resources that I use as a creative. So begins the migration to another platform. While it is definitely going to be a bit of a difficult process, I have pulled all of the images from my Flickr account and plan to dump them onto my personal website.

Now, you might be thinking, "why didn't you back up all of your raw images on on a hard drive?" Well, I tried. And then I moved. Several times. And packed my things. Which got separated. Several times. And files kept shifting around. And computers got updated. And hard drives crashed (that was a nightmare). So, I basically could spend some time to gather together the files I want from various locations, or I could just download them in bulk off of Flickr and be done with it. I chose option B. If I ever need the original quality images, then...I'll cross that bridge when I get there.

Anyway, Flickr is not what I remember it used to be. It forced me into a paid plan, then gave free accounts the same perks to entice newer users, so then I stopped paying for it. By that time, I realized that I had better resources at hand. Google slowly became the place where I kept a majority of my images, and that's not even counting professional photography. Plus, I had the option to make any albums public, essentially making it another photo portfolio. And now, I have my personal website, where I in the early stages of creating my own photo portfolio (web design is love/hate for me). So, I'm dropping Flickr. And taking my pictures with me.

It took some digging to discover how the process of exporting photos is handled on Flickr. I found the option to export my albums under the Camera Roll tab.

Under that tab, it gives you the option to select each album in your account, and with that, the ability to download those albums, each into a designated ZIP file.

In hindsight, Flickr does give you some analytics to monitor, if you're into that thing. Numbers aren't really that important to me. At least not now.

The next step for me will be to get everything dumped onto Google Photos and my personal website. The website is a constant work-in-progress, so that will also give me the opportunity to update some things.

Oh hey, is that my film reel on the front page that I haven't update in probably three years? Maybe that will be my next project. I will definitely have more to come on the management of portfolio items.

Photography in the streets

Exploring my personal interests can sometimes be a struggle. Everyone deals with their everyday lives and manages their time to the best of their ability. Sometimes, time management can cut out the things that we want to do in favor of the things we have to do.

Thus, I'm always torn between what projects get done and which ones get left in the idea bin. Which brings me to this point: I've always wanted to get into street photography but never had made the time. It has always been a passion of mine to capture the realism of the city with an overtone of surrealism, thanks to various photography effects and tricks.

And so, I'm writing this as a way to prioritize this passion and get out there on the streets. In 2017, I've come closer to living in the city than ever before. Previously, I've had to go out of my way to get projects done within the city limits. Now, I'm centrally located, making easy travel around the streets in any direction.

One of a couple of examples on my excursion.

To initially tackle this project, I took to the local South Side on a night just like any other. A short walk would find me amidst booming bars, businesses, and the colorful folks that frequent the area. Depending on the time of day or the day of the weeks, different types of crowds gather at different times.

On this particular night, it was quieter than usual. I couldn't tell you why, but it seemed the perfect night to take some photos of East Carson Street.

Without fully understanding the definition of 'Street Photography' I decided to take it upon myself to just play around with the idea, choosing a calm night juxtaposed with the bright streets lights and bar signs scattered through the street. The results were very satisfying, though I'm still not sure I fully understand the concept of street photography. Maybe it's something to be left up to the interpretation of the photographer. Or maybe I should actually Google it. I'll leave that for the next batch of photos.

While editing the photos, I simply made some adjustments to the RAW files. The high ISO that I used on this particular night made the blacks a little noisier than I preferred. Next time, I'll have to try a lens that works better in low light situations.

So, depending on the brightness settings on your monitor/screen, it might be slightly difficult to interpret. If that's the case, then I do apologize. Just another thing I have to work on when I have a little more time.

While this is far from professional, I just wanted to take the opportunity to dabble in the creative process before really doing my research. I'm hoping to learn and grow as I continue the process. Next up, I'll have to check out some popular examples to improve on what I have.

In meantime I'll leave this up to your own interpretation as continue my journey to become more proactive with my interests. On that note, anyone interests in doing some portraits?

Until the next time.

Cheers!
Steven

Leading up to 2017; Wrapping 'Body Farm'

The crew at the West Virginia State Penitentiary

"Many years in the making". That's one way to describe it. And a great way to pick up where I left off. After the venture that was 5 Minutes, my first 48 Hour Film Project, the majority of that crew were able to come back together to start filming the horror feature film Body Farm.

Fast forward to 2017. After a lengthy shooting schedule, which included some required reshoots of initial footage, principle photography finally wrapped last month.

With some time away from my personal work, I felt this would be the perfect occasion to revive my
blog, in which I discuss my personal experiences in interests relating to media. Although I've been light on projects in recent times, I have stuck with this project to the very end.

Some of our key cast and crew on set

In my sort-of absence from the "spotlight" (Does anyone actually read this blog?), I've made a lot of friends and done jobs that have led to bigger opportunities. I am still willing to help out a friend when they ask for an extra hand because I know I owe them for getting me to where I am today. To the people who have made that kind of impact in my life, thank you. You know I will always be there for you.

Five years out of college and I am still dipping my foot in the water that is the film and media community. Unfortunately, there are only so many hours in a day and I'm constantly caught in the crossroads of where to divide that time. I hope to be able to make more friends and help with other projects in the future because I've learned a lot along the way and I'm thankful for having the opportunity to be involved in so many people's passions through these short years in Pittsburgh.

Brandon Keenan preparing for the shot

One such passion is from my friend and colleague, Brandon Keenan. When we started working on Body Farm a few years ago, I was surprised that he chose me as his Director of Photography. Not because I felt I was incapable, but because I've never had someone place so much trust in me. He was asking me to tackle a project created strictly from his true passion. This was his baby and my lens was the eye that revealed his world to the audience. I was both excited and nervous to take up the challenge.

The crew that was assembled came from different backgrounds, and we worked to use those backgrounds as our strengths on the project. Once we hit our stride, the shoots became second nature to us and the process smoothed over time.

Actor/Director/Producer Nick LaMantia (right) with actor Brett Hollabaugh

Nick LaMantia of Nickel 17 Productions came on board as an additional producer to help iron out some of the areas that we were a little wrinkled in. There was also Tim Roberts, who has such an extensive background in camera work that he became my most valuable asset with camera operations, shot setup, set lighting, and other important details behind the camera. With sound, we found the talented Mr. Dave Majcher.

Kevin Hejna making his Body Farm cameo

Finally, I can't go without mentioning Kevin Hejna, who kept us all in line and on schedule during the shoot. This wouldn't have been possible without all of his hard work and dedication.

Of course, these are not the only talents involved with producing this monster. There are far too many people to name. Even those who may have only helped for a day were integral to the whole process. I want to thank each and every one of you for your assistance. We couldn't have done this without you.

Actor David Ogrodowski

What made this production work so well was the fine-tuned engine that was the cast and crew's relationship on set. We knew the right moments to be serious, communicate, and work through shots, yet at the same time, there was never any tension when working on this set. We all became close friends and colleagues and we had a lot of fun every day we shot.

Sure, it could get stressful sometimes. That comes with any film production. But we knew how to work around the tough parts and stay well connected with each other.

Now we have gone into post-production, with process quickly moving to the next step. Brandon has been editing as we shoot, expediting the process, and he continues to edit as I am writing this, working quickly through the process to create the best possible product.

More will come once the process is complete. I will keep writing on my personal projects as well. Oh, and the name change. I forgot to mention that. I chose "Cipher Eye Selfie" as a running joke on the set of 'Body Farm' and the selfies I would post on Instagram from the set. I felt the slight name was appropriate for the soft reboot of this blog. Hopefully, this will be the last soft reboot I will have to do in a while.

Take care and talk to you again soon.

Cheers!
Steven

Canon EOS 6D: Findings and Experiences

When your abilities as an artist evolve, your tools of the trade tend to evolve with it. For two solid years, I operated a prosumer Canon EOS Rebel T2i. It had its perks. It was cheap and well-rounded. But, it also had its downfalls. The crop sensor and limited depth and quality were beginning to cripple my work as a professional. At that point, in early 2013, I knew it was time for an upgrade.

One of the first films shot with my T2i, teaching me the capabilities
of DSLR cameras.

Nearly a year ago, I purchased the Canon EOS 6D as a replacement for the faithful but lacking Canon EOS Rebel T2i. The T2i helped to shape my skills as a photographer and videographer, but I knew I needed something with better quality and more features, if I wanted to prove that I was serious about my career. Thus began the search for a DSLR that provided a quality experience at the right price.

At that time, the big seller was the Canon EOS 5D Mark III, a greatly overhauled version of the Mark II. It was everything I needed to get the job done. However, the price tag said
otherwise. It just wasn't in my budget, so I went back to the drawing board and began researching alternate solutions. The Mark II proved to be a lot cheaper, but it was a dated piece of technology. It has been on the market for over five years, and from the comparisons to newer models, it was definitely showing its age. The tech market changes and grows at a rapid rate, thanks to scientific advances. Just recently, 4K cameras have become all the rage, meaning that I'm already behind on the times. But, that's the risk you take when you purchase tech, and that's why I knew the Mark II was likely near its deathbed.

I didn't want to drop money on technology that was almost obsolete, so I dug a bit further. That's when I discovered the Canon EOS 6D. It was not quite up to par with the Mark III, but this camera still held its own and fit into my budget perfectly. Since it was brand new to the market, I knew that it would last for many years to come. Or at least until I decide to cave and get something with 4K resolution. After doing a lot of research, I discovered that specifications and features of the 6D trumped the 5D Mark II in every way. It took some top-notch detective work to track down some of the specifications and how they held up against other cameras on the market.

The Canon EOS 6D was released in late November, 2012. This DSLR sported many of the features of other full-frame models, but at a more affordable price. You have the choice to purchase either just the body for about $2100 or a package that also includes the EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM zoom lens for about $2900. If you do a little price researching, you have a chance of finding the camera for even less. In my case, I was able to purchase a "like-new" (opened, but never used) body for about $500 less.

The 6D includes all the essentials of a prosumer DSLR camera: versatile still options for every type of photographer and movie recording for newbie film buffs. The 6D is capable of producing a resolution of 20.2 megapixels, containing a standard CMOS optical sensor and covering a full (1.0) field of view crop factor. Although, in comparison to other models on the market, the resolution was a bit lacking, but the image and video quality doesn't seem to suffer.

Image recording formats for the Canon EOS 6D include the standard JPEG, RAW, and the option to record both simultaneously. Videos can be recorded in H.264 and MOV formats with a max video resolution of 1920 X 1080. Unfortunately, image/video storage is limited to a single SD card slot on the 6D. If you're a Compact Flash purist, this might not be the camera for you. It's also unfortunate that video files cannot be recorded in a RAW format. There are always Magic Lantern modifications to make this a reality, but the 6D's lack of Compact Flash compatibility makes it impossible to record full HD RAW footage with the slower read/write speeds of an SD card.

In terms of physical appearance, the Canon EOS 6D is very small compared to other DSLR cameras in its price range. It measures 5.7 inches in width, 4.4 inches in height, and 2.8 inches in depth. The back contains a 3 inch LCD display, which is only slightly smaller than the display on the Mark III. Despite the small size, the 6D is very comfortable in my grip. It can feel a bit awkward at first, but you tend to get used to the grip with time. The body is very light, however heavier lenses make the weight distribution noticeably uneven. Along with standard DSLR features and camera modes, it also includes HDMI (mini), composite video/audio, mini USB, microphone (auxiliary), and remote control connectors. It also supports the LP-E6 Li-ion battery, which is a standard battery for most moderately priced Canon cameras.

After completion of my research and comparisons, I purchased the 6D. When the camera arrived at my door, I immediately started looking at the differences between the 6D and my Canon EOS Rebel T2i. Of course, my T2i dwarfed in comparison to the 6D. I was very impressed by the results, but I needed to take the camera for a real test ride. And the only way to accomplish that was through scheduling and planning several work ventures.

A test of performance with the 6D

The first few projects involved simple nature and landscape stills. I took the camera out to Mammoth Park on the outskirts of Pittsburgh. There seemed to be the perfect amount of land, lighting, and scenery. Walking around on the trails, I got a lot of good shots, close and far. The sunset created a warm glow that allowed me to capture a very cinematic experience. The quality of the photos proved to be a lot richer, in comparison to those taken by the Canon EOS Rebel T2i. Unfortunately, I can't make any side-by-side comparisons, but you can see some of the differences in comparison to some of my older photography.


I had to take the Canon EOS 6D to some varying landscapes and discover another spectrum of this dynamic little machine. I found myself at The Point at the heart of Pittsburgh. The night cityscape has always felt like home to me, and the 6D created a level of surrealism that my eyes could never comprehend. The mix of the brightest and darkest areas shone through like nothing I've captured before. It was one of my most rewarding experiences in photography. I did have some trouble with capturing photos in the darker areas, but that was mostly due to Canon EOS EF 24-105mm f/4L IS USM. With the aperture only opening as wide as f/4, it was not an ideal lens to be using in low light situations. Whenever I decide to invest in a better lens, I will revisit this particular flaw. Despite this, the 6D compensated by providing providing ISO options for even the most dimly lit areas. Of course, the amount of noise in the photos was very obvious, but it was a surprise to see Canon creating compensation options for low lighting.

After my extensive field tests, I couldn't just stop at landscapes. As I've previously mentioned, I had the pleasure to work again with the lovely Victoria Bittner on some updated headshots. The wider range of color and shading, inside and outside, was beyond what I expected to see on a particular subject. Auto focusing was quick and way more responsive than any previous cameras that I have used. Outdoor lighting was not the most ideal for that day. Don't get me wrong. It was a beautiful day, but almost too beautiful. Too much direct sunlight can ruin a shoot. Luckily, there was plenty of cover for the shoot. The indoor stills were especially crisp, capturing detail and contrasting effects on a larger scale.

But the real challenge came with testing the video capabilities of the Canon EOS 6D. The controls, as always, were easy to handle. With the experience shooting videos on my Rebel T2i, I felt at home with the 6D. I got my first real field test from shooting 5 Minutes. With the proper lighting and camera adjustments, footage came out looking fantastic.  At 24 FPS, the high definition footage, in comparison to the Rebel T2i, was noticeably superior in terms of creating a cinematic feel. Obviously, this is no RED camera or five-figure cinema camera, but in terms of independent films, it gets the job done. I was especially impressed by the depth and level of detail captured by the camera in close-ups. It was as if I was missing something from every one of my videos prior to this shoot, and the 6D filled this void.

The 6D, ready to film.

An impressive level of detail captured by the 6D's video capabilities.

However, I did run into an issue with the recording. At various times during the film shoot, the camera would automatically stop recording on its own. This was especially frustrating when we had takes that contained perishable props and special effects that could only be done once or twice.  From what I have discovered, the issue was caused by two main factors: a file-size limiter set on the camera, which automatically stops recording if the video file reaches a certain size (I believe it's 4GB) and issues with overheating, which was likely caused by the non-stop shooting on our hot, cramped set.

Since then, the camera has held its own and travels with me on most trips, big or small. In recent days, I've learned to not rely on the camera for extended video recording session. It works much better with photography or film shoots. A camcorder would be my recommendation for event videography, which is why I recently purchased the Canon XA20...but that's another story.

Overall, my short journey with the Canon EOS 6D proved to be quite the learning experience. I know that I've only skimmed the surface, in terms of technical advantages and disadvantages, but I'm sure I'll update you with any new findings in the near future. The 6D continues to be a great option for photo and video, if the Canon EOS 5D Mark III is a little too far out of your price range. With the appropriate lens, the 6D is sharp, quick in response and features all the goodies and necessities of a professional DSLR camera.
Cheers!

Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Review

This week, I decided to revisit some previous equipment and write a new review on an oldie lens: the Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II lens. Revisiting this lens, I'm surprised about how well this affordable consumer-grade lens holds up in comparison to more expensive lenses from Canon. The quality looks great and even holds its own against my Canon EF 24-105mm f/4L. Of course, a lens this cheap isn't without its downfalls. Let's break down the details of this little guy.

When I bought this lens last year, I paid a little over $100. Looking at just the price, you might think that you’re getting what you pay for. I thought the same thing. However, after reading some of the reviews, I was convinced that this was something beyond what the price was telling me. Amazon currently lists the lens at $95.00, which is cheaper still. With a f-stop that opens to 1.8, compact design, and quick-response auto-focus, you’re getting a powerful prime lens that is targeted for both beginning professionals and casual users. In fact, I’m still using this as one of my main lenses until I feel it’s time to make the upgrade to an L series lens.

Like I mentioned before, this is one case where you’re actually getting more than what you pay for. If you’re a beginner who is a little too attached to the convenience of a zoom lens and wants to try a prime, but is afraid to pay too much, then this is where you start. This compact little guy is great for travel shooting/filming, and its wide range of aperture settings and balanced depth of field provides a variety of options for any situation.

Very compact and light.

Looking at the physical aspects, the lens itself is about 2 inches long and 2 ½ inches in diameter, making it very compact and great for travel. It is compatible with all Canon EOS models and doesn't weigh down even the lightest models.

The auto-focus quickly adjusts to any target object in the frame. Even in dark settings, the autofocus seems to work better than most Canon lenses in this price range.

Speaking of dark settings, the lens handles very well in low light situations, with its very wide aperture. In this regard, the EF 50mm f/1.8 II beats out some of the lower end L series lenses that Canon has to offer. Once again, this lens proves its worth beyond its price.

Test shot from the EF 50mm f/1.8 II

With its wide aperture, you can get some amazingly shallow shots, in terms of depth of field. The shots come out looking beautiful, bringing out the details in the focal points and producing some very effective bokeh for areas out of focus. This lens really covers all of the essentials for beginners, while still providing excellent shots for even the most seasoned photographer.

Krillin took a little tumble.

On the downside, a 50mm prime lens provides very little flexibility, in terms of spacing and framing. Of course, its important to note that this is a disadvantage for any prime lens. They are all designed for a specific type of shooting. If used otherwise, you’re going to develop a need to invest in a wider/narrower angle lens.

This is the main reason why zoom lenses have become so popular, because they cover multiple angles of shooting. This means that the photographer/videographer has to invest in one or two zoom lenses, as opposed to multiple prime lenses, which are close to the same price range. However, the benefits of a prime lens greatly outweighs those of a zoom lenses, but that’s a lesson for another day. For now, skeptics of the prime lens should give this cheap model a try and they’ll quickly realize what they've been missing from their zoom lens.

Once again, every lens is made with a specific use in mind, so obviously every lens is going to have benefits and drawbacks. The Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II is just a great starting point for those looking to get a little extra depth in their photos and video footage and is a great stepping stone for those looking to start their prime lens collection. Open your horizons and see what you've been missing!