Darkroom 4.0.2 versus Apple Photos

Darkroom 4.0.2 (current version) blow Apple Photos out of the water.  Apple Photos is just a digital asset management piece of software.  It doesn’t even do that well as Darkroom 4.0.2 does it much better.  Darkroom 4.0.2 is much more feature rich than Apple Photos.  There are of course a few things missing in Darkroom 4.0.2 like noise reduction, retouch, dodge and burn, layers, a graduated ND filter like feature and masking.  I would love if noise reduction and retouching would be added to the software.  That would be enough for me currently.  I hate switching apps to do just one thing in that app and finish off in Darkroom 4.0.2.  Apple Photos is just used for the import of photos and clips for me.  I’ve tried to use the software to edit my photos but it’s just not worth it.

Years ago, Apple had a really good digital asset management for semi-pro and pro photographers but discontinued it as apparently no one was buying it which I find kinda bullshitty.  I knew a lot of photographers in my area who had a Mac who used it.  At that time Adobe’s Lightroom DAM was buggy, slow and a waste of money.  I refuse to buy into Adobe’s subscription model especially on the iPad.

If you’re a photographer working on solely on the Apple iPad, I highly suggest Darkroom 4.0.2.  It’s not Photoshop or Affinity Photo but if you need quick, good editing software that acts like Lightroom without the monthly subscription I’d recommend Darkroom 4.0.2.  After publishing this blog post, I will go on the Apple App Store to write a review and ask for the necessary features to be added to Darkroom 4.0.2.

Sony a7ii and the Sony f3.5-6.3 24-200MM lens

So I traded in some of my old Canon gear along with my Sony RX10 Mark II for the Sony a7ii camera body and the Sony f3.5-6.3 24-200MM lens.  I really wanted to go back to a full frame camera.  I loved the Sony RX10 Mark II but it was getting long in the tooth as far as tech goes.  I upgraded to the full frame Sony a7II full frame body as I want to do more landscape and astrophotography photography this summer.  A few weeks back the girlfriend and I traded in our cars for SUV’s so this summer we plan on going camping at various locations.

I tested the Sony a7ii for the first time today at Mud lake in the west end of Ottawa.  The lake was pretty much frozen over and the ice is probably a few feet thick due to the freezing temps we got this year along with the tonne of snow.  The only animals I saw today was a bunch of squirrels, nut hatches, chickadees and a few other little critters.  I am planning on going to Parc Omega tomorrow to further test the Sony a7ii.  Today I ordered an extra battery charger and a battery grip for the camera.  Hopefully the battery grip will be here in a few days.  I think Henry’s has some in their warehouse in Toronto so I’m hoping I get it by tomorrow or Thursday.

I am so done with shooting Canon and Nikon products.  I never really shot with Nikon but Canon is done for me.  It’s over priced and the camera bodies are lacking in features.  The Canon lenses are fantastic though.  Probably best in the photography business.  But the bodies are lacking features.

Sony RX100 Mark VI - The perfect pocket camera

I've had the Sony RX100 Mark VI for a couple of weeks now.  And it's been the perfect little pocket camera packing a 24-200MM lens.  No more need for any DSLR camera.  You have one that fits in the palm of your hand.

The pros of the little pocket camera definitely out way the cons which there aren't many.  The internal ND filter is gone.  No problem.  Still had an external ND filter which I can easily attach to the new Sony RX100 Mark VI.  There is still no mic jack on the camera.  It's actually ok for me as I don't do YouTube videos.  And if I did, I can use my Canon Vixia HF G40.  Since I do not do podcasts or add voice over to any of my footage clips, I really do not need an audio out on the Sony RX100 Mark VI.

Footage wise, the camera is amazing.  Color reproduction is fantastic and the footage is tact sharp from 24mm to 200mm.  Photos are sharp as well and color accurate.  I am so glad the lens goes out to 200mm as well.  No more carrying around heavy lenses such as the Canon L f2.8 70-200MM.  That was such a heavy lens to carry on your back.  Especially when hiking in the mountains.

I can do long exposure photography with the Sony RX100 Mark VI.  One downside of the Sony RX100 Mark VI is that it only goes to f11.  Not f22 or higher like most lenses.  But you cannot expect that from such a small camera.  I can carry around my Sony RX10 Mark II with its 24-200MM lens which does go to f16 so I can get the star effect on street lights at night.

I've yet to test the camera for astrophotography.  With it's 1 inch sensor, which is relatively small, I figure it's going to be fairly noisy beyond ISO 1600.  I only do astrophotography in the summers, on weekends which isn't too often. 

Another month. Another year.

December 2018 was my third best month of all time on Shutterstock.  A lot of video sales propelled me to having the best month of the year as well.  Although the end of the month was a real disappointment with no sales for three days, I was happy with the month over all.

I hope 2019 is a lot better for photo and footage sales.  Pond5 and Storyblocks were down in sales.  Especially Storyblocks.  I have not sold anything there in months and I've more than tripled my inventory there in 2018 by adding more footage and adding photos there.  Pond5 was OK.  Sold a few hundred dollars worth of footage.  No photo sales, but that is to be expected.

April 2019 is coming up fast which is kind of scary considering I'll be moving permanently to Calgary.  At least I hope.  I need to find a job there first.  I only have two weeks left on this contract but I'm being told I'll be extended again.  I don't know for how long.  We shall see.  I'm hoping to get a permanent job in Calgary.