Author: James Vornov

I'm an MD, PhD Neurologist who left a successful academic career on the Faculty of The Johns Hopkins Medical School to develop new treatments in Biotech and Pharma. I became fascinated with how people actually make decisions based on the science of decision theory and emerging understanding of how the brain works to make decisions. My passion now is this deep explanation of what has been the realm of philosophy, psychology and self help but is now understood as brain function. By understanding our brains, I believe we can become happier, more successful people.

Good Enough RAW Processing

Interesting:

Software Week Recap
Let’s get the dirty work out of the way right up front: I no longer recommend Capture NX2 as the best NEF raw file converter

These days I capture images of three types:
Nikon RAW files from the D300
Sigma RAW files from the DP1
JPEG files from various sources (processing lab scans, iPhone, etc)

I continue to use Aperture as my image database. Its fast and integrates well into my Apple product ecosystem.

The one drawback is that Apple doesn’t support the Foveon RAW files, so they need to be converted in the Sigma program in bulk before being brought into Aperture. Then if I want to tweak the RAW conversion, I need to find the RAW file which is not managed in Aperture and create a new version. However with the great exposure control of the DP1 and its exposure latitude, that’s been very rare. Once or twice, I’ve done spit RAW conversions, where I create a version for highlights and one for shadows to merge both in Photoshop.

Thom’s assertion that Aperture’s conversion was now the equal of Capture NX2 certainly suggested that I should take a second look at the quality of what Aperture does, since I could potentially drop a step to directly move the file to Photoshop for editing.

Its always interesting to contemplate how to make these comparisons, since the conversion is only a starting point. An apparent relative defect in conversion, like flat rendition, could become an asset for later editing stages. So logically, one should take an image down each of the paths independently, all the way to print or web display, and compare.

Oz Revisited



From Paris to Oz, originally uploaded by jjvornov.

While rating and editing the images I captured in Paris with the Leica, I got Photoshop up and running again for the first time in a while and pulled Vincent Versace’s “Welcome to Oz” off the shelf.

I tried hard to get a strong impression of direct light on the left in this image while maintaining that great Velvia saturation. I’m fond of these Velvia city images and will probably keep on working this angle rather than returning to the TriX classical route just yet.

The Magic of Film



Bus Stop, originally uploaded by jjvornov.

I just got the scans of the 5 rolls I shot with the Leica M6ttl in Paris a few weeks ago. This is the jpg of a slide, Provia I think, straight off the CD. The dimensionality and tonal range of well exposed film just blows me away every time.

About half of the images are color, half are TriX.

Compact cameras



Walk, originally uploaded by jjvornov.

While waiting for a few rolls of TriX to be developed and scanned, I borrowed my son’s compact for comparison. Its the Canon SD780 IS, an incredibly small camera with a decently wide zoom range (33-100mm 35mm equiv) close to my usual range with the Nikon D300.

Image quality is really quite good for such a small camera. It makes me wonder about whether I should consider one of the newer compacts as a carrying camera since my output is so low and I generally don’t have a camera with me unless I’ve gone out specifically to capture images.

IPad Inspirations

For reasons I only partly understand, I bought the latest version of Tinderbox from Eastgate. It’s been over 4 years since I last worked on the Decision Tools blog. I found the relevant files and templates to update the home page at least.

The iPad is serving as catalyst here. Somehow the eBook format of the iPad suggests to me that is worth weaving together all of the threads contained in my philosophical investigations.

New Project



Having Risen, originally uploaded by jjvornov.

Photography has not been front and center over the past 6 months. It was a cold, snowy and wet fall and winter. When traveling, I’ve been seeing cities, not photographing them.

In casting around for a new project, I think that using the Leica with Velvia in urban and suburban settings would provide some interesting perceptual lessons, bringing its psychedelic color rendering to scenes where color is really more subdued.

Its an easy but expensive workflow depending on whether I pay the local lab to scan or not. But its so clearly non-digital to my eyes; its photographic in an old school sense.

Travel Photography



Clearing, originally uploaded by jjvornov.

The cameras have been sitting idly for months it seems. During the summer I was without my laptop so that images remained unprocessed. With unprocessed images, what’s the point of capturing more?

I literally forgot how easy and pleasurable it is to bring along the Sigma DP1 as a travel camera and collect a visual diary during a trip. The images are frequently gorgeous and its slowness matters little if the approach is casual.

Its all down to intuition for casual shooting. It’s a matter of trusting that if something looks interesting, it’s worth framing a shot, owning the frame and capturing an image. In post processing, it’s simple enough to use Aperture for review with editing using Tonal Contrast and some regional intensity highlighting with a combination of a filter plus control points.

Small Cameras



Square Pegs Round Holes, originally uploaded by jjvornov.

I’m just back from a business trip to the UK and Netherlands. In London, I shot two rolls of Tri-X with the Leica. In Amsterdam, I used the Sigma DP1. The Tri-X is off being developed and scanned. I’ve downloaded the Sigma images.

I had intended at first just to bring the Leica, but the Sigma is so small and light that it begged to go too. I’ve done some of my best city travel photography with the Sigma, so a head to head with the Leica was of interest.

Either one is a nice substitute for the too big to bring Nikon D300 and zoom. My style of shooting with either the Leica or Sigma is about the same. It is much easier to capture a moment with the Leica given it’s rangefinder-based manual focus. The Sigma is too unpredictable in time to focus for capturing an image with split second accuracy.

Of course the SIgma has all of the considerable advantages of digital including lack of processing time and cost as well as instant review. On balance, as I was shooting I felt like digital won out. However, I await the Leica images.

Concept and Execution



Spello by Night, originally uploaded by jjvornov.

This looks like a really nice image, but it’s actually technically pretty poor. When I looked at it on my 21 inch monitor during sorting, I passed over it because the detail in the more distant walls are blurred by camera shake. It’s at 1/20 sec which I can usually handhold, but only if I brace the camera well, control my movement and breathing and squeeze the release. Sometimes I actually close my eyes at the moment of capture because it helps me focus on not moving.

But I was dodging occasional cars as I timed the capture. You can see the next car approaching around the bend. The headlight works well, but capture was not optimal.

I realize that when you get home and review, the images have imperfections that can’t be fixed until next time. So it’s the best we have.

Sufficiency



Into the Clouds, originally uploaded by jjvornov.

As I process images from Umbria I realize that I’ve found a simple, effective equipment combination in the Nikon D300 and Tamron 17-50mm f/2.8. The images are sharp and have sufficient dynamic range for processing. The combination of aperture and usable ISO gives me the ability to shoot well past sunset. I have simple off-camera IR control of flash.

It’s a DX setup, but I have no need for a full frame sensor since I have wide and sharp DX lenses.

What would cause me to upgrade? The D300 is well built but heavy. I’d love a body the size and weight of the D80 but with the image quality of the D300. In fact, smaller and lighter would be better as long as it was balanced with the Tamron. The Tamron is optically perfect for me, but it’s not of the same build quality as the Nikon equivalent. But I’ll take the Tamron based on its size and weight.