Panel 1

Photography

Portraits

Studios, outdoors, wherever good people are.

Events

Matrimony? Clubs? Lots of people, lots of lighting.

Artistic

Either by accident or by travail.

Full Spectrum Imaging

For false-color infrared and ultraviolet photography.
Panel 2

Drones

This used to be a space that housed a couple of things related to the DJI Phantom series of drones as well as some footage of flying some DIY builds but I’ve removed those temporarily until I can get some more substantial content to post here. Leaving the page up because I like it a whole bunch and I’ll be adding items to this page as spring and summer roll around.

Panel 3

Writing

Journal

  • Storm and Stress – Journal 7/28/19

    A blog only seems to be a blog if you decide to use it every once in a while. Let’s roll the reel!

    Another wedding down, this time again in Tacoma, and this time with an A7rii at my disposal. So I also had FE lenses, and made the most use of the G 28-70 and 90mm macro from Sony. I resisted the urge to take a Helios with me but I think I can next time. I’m way more comfortable with its quirks than other lenses at the moment.

    I made use of flash more effectively than ever before, as it was a daylight-tuned indoor lighting affair. Which is hell on white balancing but hey, we can tough through it. I finally finally got the replacement hot mirror filter for the A6300, so I delegated it to having the 50mm f/1.8 mounted all night. Only to realize that no lights in the building put off infrared wavelengths, but hey! I got some good bursts with it.

    Oh yeah, that was one thing about the A7rii that really told me it wasn’t for me, the buffer times are killer. Even on a high-speed SD with an extra row of pins, the cycle times were abysmal in a fast-paced environment. That’s what I get for using a portraiture camera as a main carry during an event, I suppose. That’s why the A9 exists.

    That very week I was able to use the A7rii for a studio portraiture shoot, and that’s where it really shined. As I’m dipping my toes into portrait shooting, I’m realizing that those kinds of camera bodies are a little much for me and too much con for their megapixel pro.

    I recently got hands-on with the Fujifilm GFX100, too, that 102 megapixel monster. It shows an unfortunate amount of detail, but in contrast to the A7rii, it can burst 5fps. BUUUUT the buffer on it is even longer after stressing out the sensor and processor that much. I have never shot with medium format, period. So this was a wicked opportunity to test the current hypercar-equivalent.

    Fujifilm, when it comes to cameras, seems to really be vested in photography that simulates the film look, but having ALSO recently gotten hands on with some of the latest Leica stuff, I can say with confidence that Fujifilm is getting away from the physical design quirks in their higher level bodies that Leica is staying true to.

    During the presentation for how to use the GFX, they went hard on describing the technical, Apple-like qualities they’ve infused their product with and why that makes it so much better than anything else before it. It’s almost like they don’t want people to know that the Phase One cameras exist, and outclass it if compared spec-to-spec.

    Their whole point seems to be making the camera feel nice to use, but god damn did those Leicas feel so much better to shoot with.

    Shooting with a Leica M feels way more satisfying than shooting with the GFX100, personally. The GFX100 just isn’t for me, and I knew that going in, but even having felt the resolving power of 102 megapixels, I’m honestly not vexed.

    My perfect medium format mirrorless would also be a digital rangefinder, probably capped at 40 megapixels, and it would be made by Leica. But that would probably cost more than a GFX100 and that’s where Fuji gets ya.

    Which is fine! Becauuuuseeee…

    After 7 months of fighting for it, I finally earned my upgrade, the Sony A7iii has joined my arsenal.

    I’ve only had it for a week, but comparing it to the A7rii and the Fujifilm, I think I made the right choice by getting the base A7iii and not going for another build/manufacturer at this time. Who knows what weird things I’ll add onto this one, anyways.

    And the names have been swapped! The A6300 is now Drang, and the A7iii is now Sturm. A bit pedantic, but important to me!

    So far the greatest parts of the A7iii are the IBIS, the dual card slots, and the eye-tracking. I haven’t even bothered with the touch screen, and I’ve actually turned it off because the joystick feels so much better to use.

    With the stock 28-70mm f/3.5-5.6 I’ve been able to do just fine in pretty much every environment because the ISO grain on the A7iii handles itself EXTREMELY well. Incredible, coming from the A6300 (which I know had its share of heating issues).

    Right! That’s where I’m at right now. Next is to actually use what I have in a field someplace. Fire investigation photography is alluring for my infrared camera, but I’m looking at more practical options for my visible light photography first. Let’s get crazy, but in a moment.

    More weddings, more studios, more portraits. Onwards we go.

    The city is moving, but things are changing.

    Consume reality!

    Radio Reality City!

Poetry

Rehashed

Deneb Mythos

Short Stories

Panel 4

About

I’m Jake Thomas Shaw, The Host of Radio Reality City.

If you’re in the Tacoma and Olympia areas, you might catch me at poetry slam events! I have been a featured poet on behalf of the Creative Colloquy, and published in various ways across Tacoma and Puyallup.

Aside from written content, I also do digital arts; namely photography.

Currently shooting with a Sony A7iii and Alpha 6300. My offhand equipment includes the Helios 40-2 and 44-2 as my right-hand lenses, along with a Fotodiox Pronto autofocus adapter for a lot of my artistic photography.

My A6300 has been converted by Kolari Vision to shoot in full spectrum, which includes ultraviolet light and near infrared wavelengths as well as visible light.

Certified in Canon, Nikon, Sony, Fujifilm, Leica and Olympus digital imaging, but specializing in Fujufilm and Sony products of my own volition.

As far as imagery goes, I also have a hand in graphic design and other digital arts. My tablet allows me to draw things in the Gnu Image Manipulation Program.

I am the pilot of the Reality City Monarch, a DJI Phantom 3 Professional drone; and the Ronin, a custom Tiny Whoop fpv racing drone. Currently pursuing my sUAS certification to fly commercially.

Disclosures

I am currently allowed to use music by the artists Kauf (kaufaudio.com), Tape (tape.se), and Tycho (https://ghostly.com/artists/tycho), so long as the use of them isn’t monetized and the artists are given proper credits where they appear in my productions. I genuinely enjoy the music, and I highly recommend you check them all out!

Aside from all of that, all of the assets on here are original works by yours truly. I will allow fair use usage of my work, provided you get permission first by emailing me at the address listed below.

SOCIAL MEDIAS

Email: jakethomasshaw@radioreality.city

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jake_thomas_shaw/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RRCfeed

Reddit: https://www.reddit.com/r/RadioRealityCity/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RRC_PubBot

Panel 5

Contact

I’m based out of the South Puget Sound in Puyallup, Washington, but willing to operate anywhere in Western Washington and beyond if logistics support such a thing.

If you have an inquiry for a commission, or just have any general questions, go ahead and fill out this form below. Include your name, email, and some specifics about what you might want me to do or what questions you have.

I commonly supply a contract upon agreement of a professional engagement.