So I finally shot a photo in Jpg mode and checked the shutter count, up over 46k shots in just about 2 years.
Not too shabby, not my all-time high, but certainly not my lowest numbers either.
I've been working on off-camera flash technique lately. Today I had free time, and my daughter had her choice of things to do today: She wanted to do a photoshoot.
So we rocked it. Here are a couple photos. Taken with the 55mm f/1.4 and the KP, + the Flashpoint (Godox) Li-Ion manual flash. Specs shown here, and setup. I have a Flashpoint EVOLV 200 (Godox AD200) and an AD600 as well, but that power wasn't needed for this shoot. Plus again, light weight is a plus.
Also used a magmod MagBounce. And I'll tell you what, for individual portraits? those things rock. Because I can have them on a light stand and not worry about weighing the light stand down with a sandbag. It may not seem like much, but seriously the weather here? There always seems to be gusts, even on the calmest of days. And the more weight you have to carry? The less spontaneous you can be. Which isn't always a bad thing, but isn't always good either.
I can get them up really close to people's faces (to soften the light as much as possible) and it still renders a very pleasing light pattern / not harsh if I don't want it to be.
It started raining while we were shooting. I had a ziploc bag with me.
(Actually this is a pretty good downpour, we almost had to make a run for it, but it let up about 30 seconds after this pic was taken). You can see the droplets... 1/1000s plus a flash.
Here is some star trail work I've been doing with the KP. I just finally started nailing focus on these. (my problem, not a camera problem.) and I'm very happy with some early results here. I have a feeling the next six months are going to be huge for me for doing star trails.
And another:
I think this fall I probably won't be freelancing for the newspaper anymore. I totally still enjoy it, but it really doesn't pay a lot, and with COVID-19 still bouncing around the US I have a feeling events are going to be called off at random, and I can't see the newspaper needing me for much of anything this year.
Anyway, if there's still anyone on the fence about owning a KP, have no doubts it is a capable machine.