In 2014 and 2015 I set a challenge for the month of September - NF-SOOC-September - shoot for the whole month with a 'nifty-fifty' 50mm lens or its equivalent for your camera and post the direct from camera Jpeg with no processing and no cropping. In both years a lot of you joined in and we all made some progress I think.
I can't do that challenge this year as I'm already shooting SOOC for the whole year with a 35mm equivalent lens and in B&W. It seems a shame though not to have a bit of a challenge to sharpen up our photography skills before Winter, so...
...this year's challenge will be Square September! If you're using a 'mirrorless' camera you can usually set it to a picture size of 1:1, otherwise you'll need to crop in post - the value of this challenge lies in helping us to sharpen our composition skills. Those of you who are also on Instagram - I'm not - will find this a doddle ;-))
Tag your posts square-september and feel free to share on here to keep this thread active.
If I can't figure out how to make my camera do the 1:1 size, I will definitely keep the idea of a square crop in mind- that is I will compose my shots with the square crop in mind. Sounds like a fun challenge.
Great idea Richard. I did a square September back in 2014 I think and I enjoyed it a lot. My mirrorless will let me take in 1:1, so I may give it a go.
Mr Sayer @vignouse could you clarify something for me please? Is this challenge simply to shoot square, or does it include the NF-SOOC portion as well?
I know what SOOC means, but the NF part has eluded my google search skills. Does it stand for "Noise Filter"? And if it does could you point me somewhere that talks about how to do that in camera. All I've found are articles about noise reduction without an explanation of what is different between NF and NR.
@dyanstevens Hi Dyan - sorry if I confused you by referring to the challenge I have issued for the past two years - this year's challenge is simply to shoot square. The NF part is shorthand for nifty-fifty which is the way that the 'standard' 50mm lens is often described. If you want to try nf-sooc and square all together you will be amazed at how much progress you will make over the month. Good Luck in whatever you decide and many thanks for your interest!
Great idea Richard. Thanks for posting this challenge. I will try to go a full month with the square format. And I will try hard for the SOOC moment, but most probably I will be in need to use either in camera processing or post processing to have a decent photo to post.
@olivetreeann Classic DSLRs like your Nikon won't do it because their viewing system is mechanical but cameras with an electronic viewing system - compacts and so called 'mirrorless' cameras - will usually allow it.
@vignouse I've got two Canons which probably are equivalent to the Nikon you're talking about. I'll have to poke around in my Olympus and see if it's in there somewhere. Thanks for the tip!
I am joining this challenge and have decided to go all the way. I am using my mirrorless Olympus OM-D EM-5 Mkll, with Panasonic 20mm 1.8 prime lens. My camera is set 1.1 and monotone and I will be uploading SOOC.
@ethelperry Brilliant Ethel - thank you so much for joining in so wholeheartedly. I've learned so much from doing this and I'm sure you will do too... you've made a great start.
@allmydays You look on the dateline below your comments and at the end of that line you will see three little dots; click on the dots and it will bring up a URL for your image - copy that and paste it here.
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I've followed 1:1 before but will do it again as I found it useful - thanks for the challenge, Richard.
I think your RX100 shoots 1:1.
I'm using mine!
I know what SOOC means, but the NF part has eluded my google search skills. Does it stand for "Noise Filter"? And if it does could you point me somewhere that talks about how to do that in camera. All I've found are articles about noise reduction without an explanation of what is different between NF and NR.
Thanks!
http://365project.org/altadc/365/2014-09
Had to crop mine in post-processing today. Will try to find some time over the next few days to see if I can do it in-camera.
I had to do this in post, but will see if I can find a setting in my camera.
I am joining this challenge and have decided to go all the way. I am using my mirrorless Olympus OM-D EM-5 Mkll, with Panasonic 20mm 1.8 prime lens. My camera is set 1.1 and monotone and I will be uploading SOOC.
I am joining this challenge late. I will have to crop, but will definitely keep square in mind while composing.
I've done this one for you...
Another effort for the challenge. Learning a lot!