Dave Baack Photo

Doing some data backup, and remembering the days I had this gig shooting storage units.
Those were *not* the days.

I DO remember being turned away for wanting too much money, then they came back a month later and told me their hire was no good, and they agreed to my rate.

I didn't even have a car, and I managed all these shots from Puyallup to Everett. Looking back, I learned more about myself and how to handle a challenge than any lighting or editing skill, and it was a huge step in getting better.

This was *after* I was an aerial photographer, so it would have been easy to feel bitter. But the ability to see this project through on my own still holds value today. Since then, I haven't shied away from any task that involves high volume. In photography or other areas of life. It just doesn't phase me. I've done an incredible amount of hideously repetitive tasks without losing morale or getting fed up.

It's fascinating to learn how things we learn serve us years later.

Anyway, back up your data.

Last night around sunset, I went to the Seattle Waterfront and met my friend, Clark Labelson who introduced me to this interesting lens. It is a 50mm 1.4 Tilt Shift lens by TT Artisans, a new Chinese lensmaker.

T/S lenses have been around for quite some time, and were built for practical applications that were previously only achieved by using a large, heavy, slow, expensive and complex monorail camera.

The lenses in question, in addition to their practical applications, can effectively replicate the focusing capabilities of macro lenses, which are specifically designed to capture very small objects, such as figurines and model cars. This replication produces a visual effect similar to that observed in the real world.

It can indeed be somewhat disorienting; however, once I became accustomed to it, I rediscovered the familiar joy reminiscent of my early days as a photography student. The experience was immensely enjoyable.

I recommend positioning yourself above the subject and potentially incorporating one or two narrative elements while maintaining an aperture setting between f/2.0 and f/2.4. This range effectively minimizes chromatic aberrations often observed at f/1.4, while also enhancing the believability of the miniaturization effect.

Additionally, I appreciate the bokeh produced at this aperture, as it possesses a dreamy, cinematic quality characterized by aesthetically pleasing, rounded ovals of light.

I aspire to add this lens to my extensive Think Tank camera bag in the near future, allowing me to explore the world from a new perspective, which is arguably the most invaluable asset a photographer can possess.

Gear and conveyance:
Sony a7R3
TT Artisans 50mm 1:1.4 T/S
Really Right Stuff L-plate
Black Rapid Backpack camera sling
Think Tank Streetwalker v2.0
Converse Waterproof Boots

Went in search of a little local color around my neighborhood the other night. Just a twilight stroll, one camera, one lens, no bag, no extras. All manual focus, nice and slow.

Some of my favorites form my recent visit to Orcas Island, the Crown Jewel of the San Juan Islands here in Washington state.

Fine Art prints and Wall Art now available on my website - www.davidbaack.com/Destinations