Olympus EP-1

My first digital camera was an Olympus. It was the C-3000 zoom. Focusing was slow. File writing was slow. It had a cool infrared wireless remote. I loved that camera. I "made do" with that camera and it was fun. I shoot mostly with Canon now, but the new EP-1 is just so cool. Maybe it's time to sell off some unused equipment and take another look at Olympus.

I think Panasonic kind of blew it with their introduction of their micro 4/3 camera. They kept the SLR-type body even though they didn't need to, which is disappointing as Panasonic has some pretty innovative/interesting point and shoot cameras. Olympus' first attempt is very cool. I think they are going to sell a lot of these.

Sweet, retro-influence with the external viewfinder.

I'm in a waiting mode though. I have to watch the money these days and another camera would not sit well with the spouse. It sounds like there are plans for another Olympus micro 4/3 camera with a viewfinder. The second generation of anything is always much better than the first. And, here's a toally cool rendering of a Panasonic concept. I think (hope) that when Olympus sells buckets of the EP-1, other camera manufacturers take notice and come up with similar offerings.

The Benefits of Education

I've enrolled in Junior College. Like many, I'm contemplating a career change. I love photography but I'm thinking more about graphic/web/print design. So I'm taking a "Digital Imaging" class to see if my interest leads anywhere.

The class is on Saturdays from 0900-1525. I was surprised at how well equipped the lab was. There was probably 25 Mac G5 computers, an Epson 4xxx series printer, an Epson 9xxx series printer and a couple flatbed scanners.

I really only use Photoshop for photo editing. I've never really started a digital file from scratch to create something artistic. Our first in class assignment was to create some abstract images utilizing complementary colors and and "triad" of colors. It was difficult for me. Even my abstracts look like landscapes. So one thing I'm working on is just playing more with the Photoshop interface and just doodling. I'm getting pretty good at making watercolor wash-like gradients.

On the web advisor for the JC, I noticed a link to student software. The site had Adobe Creative Suite Premium as well as Adobe Lightroom. I looked up the price on Adobe and the two together were almost $2,100. I got them both through the student software store for a grand total of $462... My class cost me $32. The book is $30. That's some crazy savings for taking a class that will put me further along a second career.