movito's photostream  

Testing a "titanium" 50mm f/1.4 pre-asph was definitely not part of the zero-G.A.S. plan.

Winter in Norway means short days and little light. Getting up early can be hard and the lack of light makes it harder to break down the melatonin in your system.

Several of my team members have purchased Wake Up lights to help them get up and get going in the morning. Some bought the well-made Philips version, others got cheaper no-name variants.

The object(ive) of a Wake Up light is to rouse you gently by facilitating melatonin breakdown. There are three aspects to the experience:

1. Your being fully awake, alert and capable (immediate, outward-oriented), illustrated by my colleague Stian who was kind enough to pose for this shot contrasting fatigue with focus.

2. The pleasure of operating the device, in the sense that it augments your capabilities and extends your range (immediate, inward-oriented)

3. The assurance that you will be wide awake tomorrow morning. (forward-looking, outward-oriented)

When we talk about user experience, it's easy to get stuck in tool mode and think that the tool and the use of the tool matters more than its object(ive). Take a look at the larger activity taking place. You'll find lots of inspiration and many goals for your tool there.

My biggest problem with photography is that making images is hard and trying, buying, using, selling and playing with equipment is easy.

What's your best tip for staying focused on the images you're making, and not dwelling on the equipment you're using?

As much as I like my other cameras, the enormous flexibility of 3gen/EVIL/mirrorless cameras and the diminutive size and excellent sensor of the Sony NEX-5n has gotten me excited about photography again.

I have plenty of ergonomic and interaction design quibbles with the camera, but for a second version, it's pretty great. Sure, I wish it was full frame but I've gone from saving up for a Summilux-M 50mm ASPH to searching for oddball lenses and adapters of all types.

The flip-out screen makes it easier to photograph our kids and our terriers. The small size and low price (compared to the M9 and D3) means that I can bring it along wherever I go. The screen is excellent (hey Leica, put it on the MX/M10) and the files totally usable at ISO 3200 and above (M9? Try ISO 400 max).

For the last two years, preferred setup has been the M9 and the M7 with Provia or Tri-X, with the D3 thrown in for portraits and action shots. Now I'm headed in the direction of a NEX-5n with the lenses I already own for just about everything, plus a medium format camera for landscapes and group shots. Stay tuned.

If I ever get one of these into the house again, remind me to bring a 60" flat panel as well. The old Eizo monitor did a fine job but for telepresence, a bigger screen easily means a better meeting.