A Couple Articles from "Outdoor Photographer" (June 2010 issue)

'"Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2"

I recently was looking through a June 2010 issue of Outdoor Photographer when I noticed something that I had never seen before; a SLR-looking Panasonic digital camera that doesn't utilize single lens reflex (no reflex mirror).  This camera is much lighter and more compact than traditional DSLRs.  It has a 12-megapixel Live MOS image sensor, 4000x3000 megapixel resolution, 3 inch tilt/swivel LCD screen,1/400 to 60 second shutter speed, 100-6400 ISO settings, and only weighs 3.1 ounces.  It can record pictures as well as high definition video.  Recordable format settings accommodate JPEG, RAW, RAW+JPEG, AVCHD Lite/QuickTime Motion JPEG.  The LCD touch screen is a wonder in itself.  It allows the user to select the auto-focus focal point by just touching that location of the pane right one the screen.   The touch screen can also be used in manual mode to select shutter speeds and even can be used to zoom in or out.

The DMC-G2 also allows the user to shoot HD video and utilizes a high resolution Live View Finder(LVF).  It is able to shoot 1280x720p HD video in AVCHD lite format, which allows the user more footage per gigabite.  The camera is also able to shoot video in Quick Time Motion JPEG.  Both video formats shoot at 30 frames per second.  It has a mono microphone with the option of attaching a stereo microphone as well.  If you still like to look through a traditional view finder when shooting videos or photos, the DMC-G2 comes with a high resolution LVF.  Both the LCD touch screen and LVF show the camera settings before the picture is taken.  The LVF is an electronic view finder that gives the shooter the feel of an SLR with a 180 fps refresh rate to reduce "flicker".

The camera also comes equipped with a Micro Four Thirds system that allows it to operate just like a DSLR without the necessity of a reflex mirror or mirror box and allows quick-refresh (800x600 pixels at 60 fps).  The Micro Four Thirds system utilizes the same 17.3x13.0mm image sensor size as a standard Four Thirds System camera.

"You Wish You Were here"

Brandon Riza is both a 3D graphics programmer and photographer who uses digital capture and compositing to create photographs that are "intensely real and completely factual in tone."  He also likes to get out and hike different areas on the weekends with his dog "Neutron."  At first, Brandon hiked and took pictures around California to send off to his friends back home in Texas.  He quickly came to realize his true passion for adventure and excitement in hiking alone with only his dog at his side.

Looking at Brandon's pictures it is clear that he likes to hike and likes to show what he sees when he is out on his hikes.  The photographs are extremely colorful and use a lot of reds to attract viewers.   Riza remarks, "This is just my personal philosophy and opinion, but I think that when photographs of landscapes are interpreted artistically, it does a tremendous disservice to the universe."  He is a firm believer that nature doesn't need manipulation by Photoshop.

Brandon likes to shoot underexposed because it allows him "more dynamic bandwidth to pull up areas in post from the RAW data that are too dark without introducing grain."  He believes that if you overexpose, it is very difficult to recover your details.  Although he is not a Photoshop junkie, Brandon does like to uses image stitching where he "stitches" multiple exposures together in order to maintain perspective and minimize distortion.

Citations:

"Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2." Outdoor Photographer. June. 2010: 20.

Sawalich, William. "You Wish You Were here." Outdoor Photographer. June 2010: 40-46.