Why Go to the Caribbeans when We've Got a Beach in TO!

Some pictures on my walk down in harbourfront in Toronto.

Yup, we've got a beach in downtown Toronto, and no, it's not white sand in the photos although we've got that too.

Even a jet ski in the middle of winter!

The mess after the storm:

 

Nikon ADL vs. HDR + ADL

I took a stroll around harbourfront with my Nikon D7200 this afternoon.  It was a good opportunity to try HDR again and see how it fares outside.  You can be the judge of how things look.

Active D-Lighting (ADL) pictures are on the left and ADL + HDR pictures are on the right.

Covered sidewalk:  I like the details that HDR brings out.

Tiny tugboat:  There was virtually no difference here.

Larger tugboat:  I prefer the non-HDR version with more vibrant and sharper colours.

I'm not sure when to use HDR yet.  I'll eventually learn to recognize what makes a good candidate for HDR.

First Photos from the D7200

Winter in Toronto this year has been like a snow globe.  It's been beautiful.  It's been calm sometimes and stormy at other times when someone shakes it up.  We've just got another dump of snow last night.  It was the weirdest of storms.  I've never ever heard thunder in the middle of winter and wouldn't believe anyone if they told they saw thunder, but last night would prove otherwise.  It was incredible to hear thunder while the sky was cover in white snow.  In my head, I was imagining of rain up above and they quickly crystallize into snow as they tumble toward the streets of Toronto.  It was amazing!

I was thinking of doing some jogging today but it looks like I'll stay inside.  I also thought I'd go out to take some wintery scenes but my first would instead come from my bedroom, through double-layer glass.  

It'd be cool to take a picture of a TTC streetcar as it drives over a bridge.  The streetcar is red so it would be contrasted against the white background. The streetcars come around probably every 10 minutes this morning.

I had Vietnamese pho at a restaurant on Thursday.  They served it with basil leaves.  I took a snippet of it home and it's sitting in a glass jar on my window sill overlooking the city down below.  In a couple of weeks, it'll grow roots and will go into a pot ready for spring time.

The colours are drabby.  It's a bit of a gloomy day.  The sun wants to show itself but it's cloudy.  Pictures are sharp though.
 

Decline of the DSLRs

As per my observation from salability of DSLRs on Kijiji, it would seem that there has in fact been a huge decline in the use of DSLRs.  The following is a screenshot of the top five camera types used on Flickr as of March 4, 2023.  The graph says everything. Where is my DSLR in the list?  Where is any DSLR?  The Canons and Nikons used to dominate this graph as I remember it.

Source:  https://www.flickr.com/cameras

It's amazing how the iPhone has taken photography by storm.  It's no surprise though:  the megapixels, image processing, convenience, beautiful pictures.  Even myself, I use my phone more often than my DSLR because the best camera is the one that's on you.  My phone is no where close to the capability of my DSLR but it has taken beautiful HDR pictures very simply at times when the DSLR was struggling.

Even the mirrorless cameras aren't making it to the top of the list.  The mirrorless camera is like a point-and-shoot, essentially what a phone camera is.  The convenience and availability factors make it clear why phone cameras are the first choice for most people.

Chinese DSLR?

 I was curious, very curious, to know if there are any Chinese manufacturer of DSLRs.  I mean, I've only seen the big Japanese and German names out there for the past twenty years and not paid attention to anything else, until recently.  So, I looked up Google and guess what I found!

Yi Technology from China developed a mirrorless micro four-thirds camera--ok, it's not a DSLR but close enough.  There were quite a few reviews I've seen about this camera.  Some liked it and some didn't like it so much.  One thing I concluded from those reviews is that it's a cheap camera for the casual photographers.  The zoom lens that came with it is not great, having difficulties with focusing and lacks the sharpness in more expensive lenses.  You could however add any of the expensive lenses like the Leica to it and you'd get a good (not great) combo. 

I was interested in getting a copy to play with as it's so light and small but alas, there is nothing on Kijiji or Amazon.  It's strange because there is a ton of other, cheap Chinese (not necessarily mirrorless) cameras and action cameras on Amazon.  I don't know if anyone in Toronto has one or if they did, perhaps they threw in the eRecycling box already.  There hasn't been any reviews since 2016/2017.  It looks like this camera didn't go very far.  There was a hype about six or seven years ago because of its price but like a ghost, it disappeared mostly from the North American market.  I did spot a copy on Amazon India's website.  It didn't get great reviews there.  So, it came with a bang and left without telling anyone.

How to Clean the Lens Filter

How do you clean your camera lenses?  That was something I was worried about when I first bought a DSLR I believe back in 2007.  I was so worried about smudging it and dirt landing on it I went out to buy some lens cleaning kit.  The kit was pretty simple though--an air blower and a brush.  I didn't want to use any lens cleaning fluid for some reason.  In retrospect and after over 120K shots, I came to realize it wasn't all that important.

My 18-200mm always had a Hoya UV filter on so the lens was never exposed to the elements.  Sometimes though, specs of dust do creep in between the lens and the filter.  I'm not sure how but they do.  It's possible simply because I did have to remove the lens filter every now and then to clean it.

Cleaning the lens filter didn't require anything fancy.  I intially used the brush and if there is any dirt that seems to stick around, I ran the filters under water with a bit of soft soap.  I'd wet the filter with water first, then lather up the soap with water before applying it on the filter just as you would when washing your car.  I'd let the water run down the filter and it would remove all of the soap.  Soap is a bit abrasive but I never really had to clean it often so no scratches that I can see so far.  I'm sure microscopically, there are some scratches but it's really nothing.  I haven't seen anything on pictures I take.  I do the same soap cleaning method for my eyeglasses by the way.

If my lens needs to be cleaned though, I'll probably need to use lens cleaning fluid and a microfiber tissue.  There is no way I'd use soap on the lens itself.

I got my Hoya filter from Henry's before but you can get the same filter for cheaper now from Amazon:  https://amzn.to/41KDqPZ.  Don't get the cheap brands.  It makes a difference to the colours you capture.

Hobby for the Retired

I asked ChatGPT what it thinks about photography as a hobbit for the retired.  I like its response.  I'm thinking to give my D7000 to my dad who owns a old SLR.  This might be a good thing to pick up again.

Anyways, ChatGPT answered it this way:

Photography can be an excellent hobby for retired individuals. Here are some reasons why:

1. Creative Outlet: Photography provides a creative outlet for individuals, allowing them to express their creativity and capture beautiful images.
   
2. Physical Activity: Photography can also be a physically active hobby. Retirees can explore new places and take photos while walking or hiking, which can help improve their health and wellbeing.
3. Learning Opportunities: Photography also offers learning opportunities, such as mastering new camera techniques and editing software.
4. Social Engagement: Photography can also be a social activity, allowing retirees to connect with other photographers and share their work with others.
5. Relaxation: Photography can be a relaxing and meditative hobby, allowing retirees to focus on the beauty of their surroundings and reduce stress.

Overall, photography is a great hobby for retirees as it provides a combination of creative expression, physical activity, learning opportunities, social engagement, and relaxation.

Some retirees tend to be more senile.  I think a hobby that gets you out and that make you think is very healthy for your physical and mental states.  There is nothing worse than lying down and watching TV or doing nothing the whole day for years on end.

When I retire, I want to travel more with my DSLR.  It'll be time for building more adventures that I find hard to find time for now.  That's for sure.