Age: 40
Height: 5’6”
Weight: 155lbs
Natural
Photo is from a pull workout which consisted of 3 sets each…
Deadlift
Yates Row
Bicep Curls
Shrugs
Chest fly
Last week I surprisingly was able to deadlift Harambe’s Blue Kong band for 1 rep. In this evening’s workout I was able to pull BK for 4 reps with the yellow ropes (6” distance from band to bar) and 3 reps with the black ropes (5” distance from band to bar). It’s without a doubt a heavy band. The heaviest single band that I’ve pulled so far.
The original goal was to lift this by December. Once I’m able to hit 8-10 reps I’ll change the bar-to-band distance to 4.5”.
Photo 1: First day of school photo - OM-3 with 17mm f1.8 II
Photo 2: Soccer game. OM-1 Mk2 with 40-150 f2.8.
• Recently I spent some time with an OM-2 film slr. I really like the body in comparison to some of the other slrs. One thing I’d love to see in the next, or future OM System bodies, is a dial on the lens mount like the classic SLRs. Completely programmable, of course. This would allow for an even closer to film experience. I can imagine a dial for aperture, a dial for shutter speed, a dial for iso or exposure comp.
• The OM-1 viewfinder.
• Better handling of motion with HHHR more similar to LUMIX.
• Thumb stick like the OM-1 for easier focus point movement.
• Color creator mode allows to adjust hue as well as add grain/fade.
Anyone else who’s used either camera, I’m interested in what you think would further improve it.
The first 2 images are of denim & fashion designer, Julian Prince Dash. He currently runs a program in San Francisco that teaches young people how to design and sew their own original pieces. Shot on the E-M1 mk1 with the Zuiko 14-35mm swd. The light is a White Lightning X1600 going into a large softbox.
The remaining images were shot for fashion brand / art collective {ego}. These were taken on the E-M5 mk2. During this time I was shooting exclusively with C Mount and 16mm lenses. These were shot using the Switar 16mm f1.8 and the Fujinon 25mm f1.4.
Images from 2017 onward. Cameras include the E-M5 mk2, every E-M1 and OM-1 model.
Lenses include the Zuiko 14-35mm f2, M.Zuiko 17mm f1.2, 25mm f1.2, 45mm f1.2, LUMIX 8-18mm f2.8-4, 12mm f1.4, 15mm f1.7, 25mm f1.4, Voigtlander 25mm f0.95, Sigma 56mm f1.4
A couple of weeks ago I went with my wife to her family reunion in Jersey. Decided to take the OM-3 and 3 small primes. The goal was a lightweight setup that didn’t look intimidating. I also used the FL-LM3 for the first time. It makes for an amazing tiny bounce flash and I’m happy it’s also weather sealed and doesn’t require extra batteries.
All in all it’s a really fun camera to shoot with and the computational photography button is really useful. One of the shots of my wife on the beach is with liveND for 1/2 second exposure.
All Shot in RAW, processed in Lightroom Classic. The first 3 shots in white have “lens blur” added, please don’t tear my head off 😂.
It would be really cool if a firmware update allowed users to adjust color hue in the jpeg color profile mode dial.
This my first attempt trying this setup and I love it. Getting to that standing position is a true challenge. Currently I can only hit 6 reps, but aiming for 8-10 in the future. Legs were sore for a couple of days afterwards. Leg day consisted of 3 sets per movement….
Front squats with the setup featured above. There are 4 sets of .5” spacers shortening the rope length to 27”.
Back squat using the exact same setup
Split squats using handles instead of the bar
Calf raises with handles instead of the bar
For part of today’s leg day routine I replaced front squat with Zercher squats for the first time. After doing another test with starting tension, I went back to the standard Cyber bar from Harambe. My first 2 sets were with the light green doubled and green + orange for the top set. I’m using the black ropes with spacers, making it 4.5” distance from the band to the bar.
I’ve seen some users comment on Zerchers that there’s no tension at the bottom, but that wasn’t my experience and at the part in the video where I tap the band it’s to note that there’s noticeable tension present.
My first set I did with a narrow stance, but found less comfort getting into a lower starting position. The following 2 sets I spaced out the wedges how I would for back squat. This felt much more comfortable. The change up in core engagement also feels good. Set 1 & 2 - 8. Set 3 - 10.
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For back squat I tried heavy green with the cyber bar, but the tension was too heavy at the bottom. Switched over to light green + white for 2 sets, then Lt green+white+yellow at the top set. I used the blue ropes with 1 knot tied in them, making the distance from band to bar 22.5”. Set 1 - 10. Set 2 - 8. Set 3 - 7.
Split squats I ran light green singled + black ropes with spacers. With lighter setups I’m normally able to hit the same rep range with each leg, but today my right leg hit fatigue early on the 2nd and 3rd set. The goal is to get 12 reps each leg. Set 1 - 6:6. Set 2 - 8:5. Set 3 - 10:8.
Calf Raises I ran heavy green doubled with 1 wedge reversed to hit front foot. Black ropes + spacers. I previously was using heavier setups, but to get full rom this is the safest setup for me at the moment. Set 1 - 13. Set 2 - 15. Set 3 - 16. If the next session goes the same, I’ll stack a lighter band for the top set.
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In the next few weeks I plan to hit the gym to see how my current band training compares against free weights. The goal is to see if my front, back and Zercher squat can all hit 135, followed by 150-165.
For this one I tied in 1 knot into the blue ropes from Harambe which seem to have take. About 6.5 inches from the rope length. Previously I had 2 knots bringing the rope to 18 inches what become to difficult to safely load for heavier bands. This setup is a great challenge (for me).
For this setup I’m using the Travel size version of the Cyber Bar from Harambe. The bar measures 27.75” long and is a little under 6lbs. Personally, I love how the Cyberplate functions with a bar of this length. The change in the angle of pull, from my experience, increases the tension for double banded movements.
For today’s leg session I decided to do all movements doubled with the Travel bar. My front squat PR with the standard Cyber bar is the heavy green band + yellow band, singled. Interestingly enough the light green band doubled, attached with a white rope (12.5”) felt heavier throughout the full movement. Truly a leg quad punisher.
Moving forward my next move may be to shift to more doubled movements with a compact bar (legs, curls, seated overheads, bench press). I’d love a version of this one at 10lbs if the dimensions could be maintained or an ez curl bar of the same length.
Stopped by a local gym today to try my hand at free weights. I wanted to try the push day part of the ppl routine I do with bands which is…
Bench press
Seated overhead press
Tricep Extensions / Pushdowns
Bench Press
This is the first time I’ve ever bench pressed with free weights so I went lighter to just get an idea.
Set 1 warm up - 95lbs for ten reps. Once I felt comfortable controlling the movement more I went into the working sets.
Set 2 and 3 - 135 for 10 and 11 reps. It took a second to be able to control the movement, but definitely felt like I could’ve pushed a little heavier. In terms of band tension, I would compare this to bench pressing the Harambe heavy green + yellow bands. Heavy green + white feels heavier. I should note that when bench pressing I use the side channel with 3 x 1” thick pads that set immediate tension on the bands. Bench pressing along the main channel feels heavier without a doubt.
Seated Overhead Press
I normally do this combo seated with the Harambe light green + yellow. When doing this I use the bands across the main channel with 2 x 1” thick pads to help set the band tension sooner.
Set 1 and 2 - I chose a 60lb bar. The weight felt very similar to what I’d be doing at home. Slightly easier than the band combination. Each set went for 10 reps.
Set 3 - I went up to a 70lb bar. This felt slightly heavier at the bottom than using light green + yellow, but easier near the top. A good middle ground. Light green + white are a heavier combination for me at the moment.
Tricep Pushdowns
For this one I used a cable machine. Normally I’d use a band from a higher anchor point. My last tricep push down sets with bands I used Harambe white doubled with a single handle on a short connection point (black rope + spacer). My heaviest set of push downs was with the light green band doubled.
Set 1 - I decided to try my hand at 100lbs. I hit 16 reps. Interestingly enough this felt lighter than the white band doubled with more tension engaged.
Set 2 - I went to 135. This felt closer in tension, but also very much manageable. 15 reps.
Set 3 - I upped the weight to 150. This one I felt more muscle engagement but also was very much manageable. I hit 12 reps.
Overall it was a fun test to see where progress is and I’ll probably do more strength check-ins throughout the year. If you have any doubts about bands, don't worry. They work.
A few months ago was only able to hit Heavy Green for 2-4 reps. Working on getting to 12 reps with this current combination for top sets. Currently unable to do these without a belt and sleeves help without a doubt.
Clip from training last night. My previous record on this combo was 2 reps and I had to really fight for them. I was closer to 140 in weight at the time and am currently resting between 150-155 lbs.
The band combo still feels super heavy throughout the movement, especially closer to the top of the rep, but I feel like form has improved. I have deadlifted 264lbs in the free weights at the gym before and this feels heavier without a doubt. Muscles feeling sore this morning include hamstrings, glutes, back (lumbar feels fine). The goal over the next 4 months is to deadlift the Blue Kong band for 4-6 reps.
The lifting belt and straps I picked up from Amazon, Warm Body Cold Mind. I tried the V1 and V2 lifting straps from WBCM and the V1 are way better. The belt is the 7mm Velcro which feels much more stable than the cheap Walmart ones previously used.
Picked one up for 35 bucks on Amazon. It’s a beneficial tool to have in training.
He’s a future star athlete if he keeps at it. He stayed for the entire leg day. Which consisted of 3 movements….
Front squat
Split squat
Calf raises
He said I’m his strength coach now whenever he’s in town.
There’s still a long ways to go with dialing in diet. Thank you to everyone who’s provided helpful advice and suggestions.
In this video I’m using Harambe’s arm bar (11lbs) with the light green band. There’s a 4.5” distance from the band to bar. I have curled 45lb bars before in the gym and I can confidently say this combination feels around that weight or slightly heavier at the bottom of the rep. This is my 2nd highest rep set that I’ve gotten with this combination.