Pick with

A personal photo practice journal

[pick-with]

26.08.08.

I used to think I preferred vivid images, so I always edited my photos to be bright, colorful, and high-contrast. But tastes change over time. When I opened the RAW file for this photo, I realized this flatter, unedited look actually felt better.

It doesn't have the punchy colors I used to go for, but it captures so much detail and preserves the true mood of that exact moment. It feels like time to break out of my narrow view, broaden my horizons, and appreciate the natural beauty of more neutral, muted tones.

RX1R | 35mm, F/5.6, 1/125s, ISO 100

[pick-with]

26.08.11.

​A quick shot after a business meeting. Since the weather was amazing, I wished I could just leave work behind and take more photos. But as a responsible employee, I headed back to the office instead of somewhere photogenic.

Galaxy S26 Ultra | 23mm eq, F/1.4(Virtual), 1/4764s, ISO 64

[pick-with]

26.07.23.

I’ve seen YouTube clips saying that using reflections can help you get great shots. When I went to a shopping mall, I noticed a clean, reflective ceiling near a media art wall. I knew it couldn't substitute for nature, but it still brought a brief moment of joy to people. It was also a great opportunity to practice reflection shots.

RX1R | 35mm, F/4.0, 1/200s, ISO 250

[pick-with]

26.07.22.

These days, the rain starts out of nowhere and stops just as suddenly.

Galaxy S26 Ultra | 23mm eq, F/1.4(Virtual), 1/237s, ISO 10

[pick-with]

26.06.25.

I used macro mode for this shot. When I took it, I checked the image on the camera screen, and it looked great with the blurred background. But on a bigger screen, I noticed that the flowers in the foreground were out of focus.

It's really hard to control the aperture to get exactly what I want. Still, I had fun experimenting with macro mode for this picture. Sometimes, I want to pay more attention to the little things, like these flowers.

RX1R | 35mm, F/2.0, 1/400s, ISO 100

[pick-with]

26.06.07.

Galaxy S26 Ultra | 23mm eq, F/1.4(Virtual), 1/120s, ISO 800

[pick-with]

26.05.25.

Galaxy S26 Ultra | 34mm eq, F/1.4(Virtual), 1/10, ISO 800

[pick-with]

26.05.14.

Lately, I’ve heard the news about the Lumix L10 release. It weighs about 500g, which feels a bit heavy for me (at least by my personal standards). Even though I made up my mind not to buy any more cameras besides my phone, I still want something that can take sharp photos with a good zoom.

​Photography is a great way to preserve memories and emotions. But honestly, it’s hard to remember a moment well when the shot comes out blurry. Better gear, better skills, or just being more present in the moment—I’m not sure which one is the real key to solving this.

Galaxy S26 Ultra | 69mm eq, F/2.4(Virtual), 1/350, ISO 40

Galaxy S26 Ultra | 115mm eq, F/2.9(Virtual), 1/500, ISO 2000

[pick-with]

26.05.01.

The first day of the month is a great time to set new goals and refresh your mind. At the beginning of the year, I set many goals, but I’ve drifted far from them by now. I think I was too energetic and wanted to achieve too much.

​But it's a good strategy to adjust my goals and check my current progress. I'm using today as a day to refine my plans and get ready for the time ahead.

Galaxy S26 Ultra | 23mm eq, F/1.4(Virtual), 1/3084, ISO 64

[pick-with]

26.04.12.

​I heard that the most important part of photography is observing the subject. To be honest, I didn't use to pay much attention to the details of a scene. But after taking this photo, I really looked at it and noticed how the goose actually looked.

​Even though I don't know the exact species or name of this goose, I focused on finding the right moment to capture it. Taking photos has given me a new way to look at the world around me.

Galaxy S26 Ultra | 115mm eq, F/2.9, 1/500s, ISO 160

[pick-with]

26.03.31.

Lately, I feel like I've gotten lazy and a bit bored with photography. My RX1R feels a little heavy for me now (even though I know it’s light for a full-frame camera). Instead of a new camera, I got a Galaxy S26 Ultra. It’s not as fun as turning dials to change settings, but it makes it much easier to catch moments in daily life.

However, like I said, I’m feeling lazy and don't have much desire to find "impressive" moments. This photo is a result of my low interest and passion right now. But I’m cheering myself up with the thought that having fun isn’t a race. I can stop and rest whenever I want. Galaxy S26 Ultra | 6mm(Wide Lense), Auto(F/1.4, 1/50s, ISO 125)

[pick-with]

26.03.07.

The one on the left is the original shot with simple settings, and the one on the right was edited with Sony Edge.

It’s hard to describe the image I have in my mind. I chose this photo because I liked the original, but I’m not satisfied with my edited version. Since I lack editing skills, I’m not sure how to handle my photos. But the real problem is that I can't even imagine my "dream image" yet.

If I had a clear goal, I could find a way to edit it. But right now, I just want a "good image" without any specific details in mind. Even after spending time editing, the result isn't always better than the original. The colors and theme actually look better on the left one.

Studying and practicing would help me improve, but honestly, "shoot-and-share" is often more convenient and fun. I'm still not sure what I truly enjoy, but finding out what I love is part of the fun as a beginner.

RX1R | 35mm, F/4.5, 1/125s, ISO 100

[pick-with]

26.02.16.

It’s hard to pick just one photo from a bunch of them. I know why. I always try my best, even though no one is asking me for a perfect shot. Taking photos is just a hobby for my free time. Its real purpose is to have fun, but I often focus too much on the result rather than the process.

I’ve realized that I need to let go of these strict standards. I’m just an amateur! My only "duty" is to press the shutter button. Plus, if I ever get tired of it, I can quit anytime.

My energy—like my passion and attention—is limited and fades over time. So I want to tell myself, "Just enjoy it."

RX1R | 35mm, F/8.0, 1/1000s, ISO 400

[pick-with]

26.02.05.

We often ignore things we aren’t interested in. Before I got my RX1R, I honestly didn't notice any flaws in my photos. Even when there was a clear smudge, I didn't see it. As I focused more on photography, I finally noticed a smudge and found out why it was there. The reason was actually pretty silly—it was just a fingerprint on the lens. There are so many things I haven’t cared about before, and cameras were one of them. These days, I look up reviews and compare specs, but I don't "dive" too deep into it. I also think about my Galaxy S23. Experts say, "A smartphone is the perfect camera for beginners," and I totally agree now. It’s not that I’ll stop caring about my RX1R. Instead of buying a new camera, I’ll just use my phone as a sub-camera. But honestly, I'm not sure how long I can keep this promise to myself.

Galaxy S23 | 69mm, F/2.4, 1/30s, ISO 320 (Auto mode)

[pick-with]

26.02.07.

I thought my goal for carrying a camera was just to record my daily life. But over time, I started wanting more. I wanted the high-quality, sharp, and colorful shots that people love.

While walking around today, I tried to snap a photo of a pigeon, but my camera focused on the ground instead. At that moment, I almost wanted a new camera. Honestly, only yesterday, I had promised myself not to buy a new one until my RX1R breaks.

Later, at a restaurant, a bowl of warm noodles calmed me down and reminded me of that promise. My current camera is enough to record my life. Even if it doesn't always see exactly what I see, it’s still my own record. The moments I spend can't be changed anyway.

RX1R | 35mm, F/2.8, 1/80s, ISO 160 RX1R | 35mm, F/8.0, 1/80s, ISO 1600

[pick-with]

26.01.31.

Everyone likes getting "likes." I’m the same. I know how addictive they can be. That’s why I run this blog without using any hashtags.

If I focus too much on getting likes, I might lose myself. Social media can hurt my self-confidence. I don’t want my photography style to change from what I enjoy to what strangers might like.

RX1R | 35mm, F/5.6, 1/1000s, ISO 100

[pick-with]

26.01.27.

Sometimes, to be honest, I lost my target many time. In terms of focusing with a camera, and in terms of my direction of my life.

Today, I took a OPIc test. The purpose of taking it is to evaluated my english skill, but I was frustrated.

I had better admit that my eglish is awful, but my ideal image of myself is perfect. I could not handle the gap between them, my current status and the image that I am eager to become.

When I took this picture, I was just on escalator and see(not watch) the diagonal lines of escalator. I thought just shooting a shot would be a enjoyable action. However, the result makes me frustrated.

I did not intend to include bokeh effect, I lost my peeking target.

I realize how silly I am while taking photos. It is hard for me to arrange the structure, concentrate my theme and show my intent through a photo.

These days, actually, I am dying to have new equipment. But I know that new one would not solve my problem. The primal solution is improving my skill at taking photos. It can apply on my english problem. Good score does not ensure good english speaking. I had better practicing speaking instead of gather tips for good grades.

Anyway, I have tried to find easy alternative answer for my problems. I had already known how to resolve it, but I had not followed it.

I think it is time to face my suffering and doing proper action.

RX1R | 35mm, F/5.6, 1/80s, ISO 1000