Lawrence Ripsher's Photo Journal

New Canon 1D Mark III Firmware (v1.2.3)

Yesterday Canon released an update to the 1D Mark III firmware - v1.2.3.

I reviewed the 1D Mark III earlier this year in a comprehensive review. There I covered extensively the AF system, addressing some misconcetions about its performance as while highlighting its strengths and weaknesses.

Canon's feature list in this firmware only provides a single comment with regards to FF improvements:

"Improves the stability of AF accuracy in AI servo AF when shooting extremely low-contrast subjects continuously."

It'll be very interesting to see if this is their way of saying it addresses the issue of AF performance under bright sunlight.

Another point of note is that the firmware upgrades now allows the AF point to be selected automatically using the directional joystick on the back. This is a welcome addition.

I have already installed the firmware. If time permits I will provide an analysis of its performance under various conditions and post my findings here.

The firmware is available for download here.

The Contender Asia - Episode 9

Episode 9 was the beginning of the quarter finals. It was also the match which saw good friends and fellow Thais Yodsanklai and Naruepol face off against each other.

Yodsanklai won this bout by KO in round 2.

My favourite shots from this match below. You can see more on the official Contender Asia website.

Yodsanklai looks calm and confident as his nation's flag is proudly waved in the background

A high kick from Yodsanklai penetrates Naruepol's defense, striking him square in the jaw

A crunching right hook from Yodsanklai finds its mark

It's over. Naruepol is checked by the referee after being counted out as an elated Yodsanklai raises his hand in victory.

Naruepol is treated for his injuries. Within minutes he will be leaving the Contender Asia house for good

Asa Geiko

I took this while in Japan. It's of Sumo wrestlers training during their asa geiko (Early Morning Sumo Practice) at a sumo beya (sumo training stable). So long as you comply with a few simple rules (no flash photography, no sitting with your feet towards the wrestlers), then guests (and photographers) are welcome. You won't find it on organised tours of Japan, but it was one of the most interesting and personal experiences of Japan I've yet had.

I'll post more from this series soon but in the meantime, this was one of my favourite shots.

The Contender Asia - Episode 8

Am a little behind on publishing these so will give this more attention and wrap up the series over the next couple of weeks. This is Episode 8 which say Yukay Karlsson from Sweeden in action against Pitu Sans from Spain. "Stunning" is one word to describe the knockout that ended this match. As I said over on lostinfocus.org, this is probably the first time I ever felt ill from photographing sports - such was the impact of seeing Pitu land in front of me (for those of you who do not already know, Pitu, despite being knocked out, was fortunately not significantly harmed). Five of my favourite shots follow.

Pitu looks visibly shaken after receiving a crunching blow to the face

Yukay's follow through after the knockout punch. Pitu was effectively unconcious on his way to the mat.

An unconcious Pitu is counted out while Yukay looks on from a neutral corner.

"Business as usual". Yukay unwraps after the match

Pitu's Spanish flag flaps quietly in the aftermath while backstage, he prepares to exit the show

Narrative Photography

For months I've been nagged by the feeling that I need to get my images off Pbase and onto a gallery which is better for presenting a portfolio of images. I finally took care of that this weekend, pulling out a subset of my favourite shots and getting them all on a new site. The name? - well seeing as I've been using it for so long to describe my own work - it had to be narrativephotography.com

Feel free to swing by.

Obviously I'll be continuing to post here. This is more the website-on-the-business-card.

Back in Action

It has been weeks since I last picked up a camera with a serious intent to take really good photography. Last year turned out to be a hugely exciting time for me with my cameara work, but in contrast, the start of 2008 left me feeling in need of a serious break. I’ve been shooting almost every day (defeinitely very week) since 2004 and as this year rolled around I was concerned that unless I took a short layoff, I’d burn out.

The only problem with taking a break, is that it’s hard to get started again.

January quickly bacame February. And then February became March.

I’ve not been totally away from photography in that time. Since the start of this year, the following been going on behind the scenes:

- I’ve had a chance to catch up with all my post processing work required on the Contender Asia
- Got published another half dozen times or so. Twice in the Bangkok Post, another cover for Kickboxer International which is coming out next month (and is probably my favourite cover so far)
- Further developed my relationships on the Singapore scene (somethng I’m conciously pushing only slowly so to bring on interesting projects). Am now working with a new agency out here and agreeing a few upcoming projects
- Bought a Hasselblad :)

The last one is an interesting one. More on that next week.

Anyway, despite all this I have done very little actual work from behind the camera. That all changes this weekend because tomorrow night is the final of The Contender Asia. It’s being hosted at the Singapore Indoor Stadium and will have an attendance of somewhere between 5,000 - 10,000. I just got back from the weigh in and the atmosphere is very exciting. It’s going to be a huge night for the sport of Muay Thai. Tomorrow night, I’ll be taking my role as the Official Photographer, shooting at ringside for 3 hours. I really can’t think of anything else I’d rather be doing :).

Anyway, it needed something like this to get me tuned back in again. I don’t expect to be needing another break for quite some time.

Now, I think it’s time I caught up on some comments & posted some photos.