For the past several years Richard Sayer @vignouse has issued a challenge for the month of September to take and post images using only a 50mm lens (or full frame equivalent) and post the JPEG as captured in camera. (SOOC - Straight Out Of Camera)
In past introductions to this challenge Richard talked about how, back in the day, when photography enthusiasts purchased a camera it was invariably either a 35mm range-finder or a 35mm SLR. In most cases it was fitted with a "standard" 50mm lens. A roll of film was then exposed and sent to the lab and several days later, when you got it back and viewed the prints (or slides) there were some good, some bad but you were stuck with the result of your initial in-camera composition and exposure.
Digital has changed everything. Freed from the cost of film, photographers can snap happily away taking dozens of shots until they get something they like. Zoom lenses enable you stand stand in one spot zooming in and out until you are happy with your composition and modern software allows you to fiddle with your files until the image pleases you. Not that there is anything wrong with all of that. That is my modus operandi and I suspect the same is true for many of you but, as Richard points out, it does tend to make us all a little lazy. "I'll fix it in post" is the refrain. When I first tried this challenge I didn't think I would last more than a few days but to my surprise I went the whole month and thoroughly enjoyed it. Richard has created a challenge that requires us to put more thought into the end result before we press the shutter. Beware of highlights, watch out for dark shadows, are there any unwanted elements creeping in from the edges, is the horizon level? If this return to the "old days" sounds interesting to you, if you think you are up to the challenge (of course you are) then please join us for September SOOC. Use a 50mm lens on a full frame camera, a 35mm lens on an APSC camera or a 25mm lens on a Micro 4/3 camera. If you only own a zoom lens, set it to the appropriate focal length and zoom with your feet. Post the resulting JPEG on 365 and remember NO POST PROCESSING. (That's the hard part for me). This includes cropping and horizon straightening so be careful when composing.
Please join us in this challenging, but fun, exercise. It really makes you concentrate when shooting and will help make you a better photographer. Take part for the whole month or just post the occasional image.
Tag your post: nf-sooc-2023
I am looking forward to seeing the results of your old school photography.
Thank you Larry L @Isquared for posting your first image and bringing this challenge to my attention. I've been meaning to concentrate on using my Nifty-Fifty and this will certainly help, the "no editing" will be the true challenge for me. Thanks Chris Cook @cdcook48 for spearheading this. ;)
@theredcamera Absolutely. In fact, it is better to shoot JPEG when posting SOOC because RAW files tend to look flat whereas your camera will automatically adjust the contrast and saturation of the JPEG files to help them pop a little. Many cameras allow you to choose a camera profile for your JPEGs to achieve the look you prefer. This is no different than choosing a specific type of film back in the day.
@cdcook48 Thanks! I thought it made sense, just wanted to double check. And yeah, I was thinking of using the monochrome picture control setting also.....
Love this challenge! It is just what I need. Thanks for hosting it.
I have a 30mm lens for my APSC camera, not a 35. Is that OK? Can we shoot some in B&W and some in color?
@eudora 30mm is just fine. And shooting in either colour or b&w is fine too. In fact, your Pentax has a number of options for in-camera jpeg profiles. Monochrome, of course, and several different colour profiles that you could experiment with. Exactly the same as choosing different types of film back in the day. Thanks for joining in and have fun.
I just posted a photo for this competition but didn't realise that the competition was for the whole month and a photo a day (correct me if I'm wrong). I can't do much about the first half of the month but will do a pic with my nifty-fifty for each day for the rest of it. Is that alright?
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I have a 30mm lens for my APSC camera, not a 35. Is that OK? Can we shoot some in B&W and some in color?