• Camera Equipment,  Fujifilm X-E1,  Fujifilm X-T10,  landscape,  mountains,  Photography,  sunsets

    A Better Photographer

    February 17, 2019
    Sunset over the Colorado Front Range

    Well Fujifilm did it again. Yesterday they announced the new Fujifilm X-T30. Of course this is the perfect camera for me and in a price range I can afford. And, we know it will make me a better photographer. 🙂 So, in my mind is a debate on whether to sell one of my grandchildren, my car or my condo, rob a bank, take out a second mortgage, buy another lottery ticket, and other insane ideas.

    But, getting back to reality and sanity, I have to admit my Fujifilm X-E1 and my X-T10 are good cameras, functioning well, take excellent images (in spite of my sometimes ineptitude) and are paid for. So, the need to upgrade to this camera is not as much a priority as other pressing priorities in my photography and life. The truth is my next purchase needs to be upgrading my laptop. I’ve been talking about this for some time. It is 10 years old. This past week my laptop shutdown and rebooted and seems to runs slower each week. But the primary justification for a upgrading my laptop is knowing it will make me a better photographer by improving my post-processing skills. 🙂

    So my insanity tells me to be a better photographer, with an empty wallet, I really should just buy both. Sigh! GAS

    Read More
  • Black and White,  Candid Portraits,  Fujifilm X-E1,  Fujifilm XF35mm f2.0,  lifestyles,  People/Portraits

    I’ll buy next time

    July 14, 2018
    Alex
    Alex

    It feels like summer. Temperatures have been in the 90’s for several days. However, I’m thankful there is no humidity and the nighttime temperatures cool us off. The cool nights and mornings are a plus for living in Colorado. 

    I have for some time now wanted to  take more black and white portraits. Actually,  I have been taking more black and white images. Yesterday, a friend and I went downtown to Mugs for one of their chocolate eclairs. Let me tell you they are the best and made locally. 🙂 Anyway, as we sat outside I took a quick image of Alex then asked if I could. He told me no! Too late, my friend! Thanks, I’ll buy the eclairs next time.

    Read More
  • Camera Equipment,  flowers,  Fujifilm X-E1,  Plants

    … you have to see.

    June 23, 2015

    Dahlia
    Dahlia

    “The camera doesn’t make a bit of difference. All of them can record what you are seeing. But, you have to SEE.” – Ernst Hass

    I have been shooting with the Fujifilm X-E1 almost exclusively since October of 2013. My Nikon gear has sat collecting dust except for a few sunset and sunrise excursions. I find the X-E1 so much easier to grab due to its weight and size. I feel the images (jpeg) meet the standards for my use for posting on the web and any prints I wish to make. So, I sold all the Nikon gear. I intend to add one more lens, either the 23mm f1.4 or the 35mm 1.4, and probably the new X-T10. So, I apologize for the decrease in my quality of postings. 🙂

    Read More
  • architecture,  Fujifilm X-E1,  Silver Efex Pro 2,  Software

    Silver Efex Pro 2

    October 10, 2014
    Bed Post
    Bed Post

    I’ve liked what I’ve seen done with Chris Klug’s black and white images. If you’ve not been over there for a visit I suggest spending a few minutes over there. I like the results He gets from  Silver Efex Pro in his post processing. So, I bought it knowing it would make me a better photographer, like him. About a year later I received an email offering a free NIK software package that included Analog Efex 3, Color Efex Pro 4, Dfine 2, Sharpener Pro 3 and Viveza and an upgrade to Silver Efex Pro. I took it. Needless to say, I’m not any better photographer because of these software tools and I have done almost nothing with any of them except Silver Efex Pro.

    I’m finding there are a ton of options available in Silver Efex and I’ve touched very few of them. There are helpful tutorials in the internet in using this software. I just have to dig into it.

    Read More
  • Black and White,  Cityscapes/Urban,  Documentary/Street,  Fujifilm X-E1,  rants

    I Used To

    May 20, 2014
    Bicycle in Old Town
    Bicycle in Old Town

    My blogging world has changed over the past couple of years. I do not read the blogs I enjoy on a daily basis. I used to. I do not set aside a time each day, or every other day, to write a post. I used to. I do not shoot everyday. I used to.  I do not post process images every day. I used to. None of this is a bad thing but different from the past 8 years.

    I could come up with a few reasons for this change but this post is not going into that. As some know my home life changed a year and a half ago when my youngest daughter and her two teenage children needed to move in with me. That, my friends is a dynamic change, probably 10 stops of light.

    I’ve, also moved into my retirement phase of life. Now that is an adjustment. I am enjoying spending more time in solitude, searching out places of quiet in parks, nature areas, churches. My retirement requires a financial adjustment on my part. I have to watch for those GAS attacks. There is no supervisor to hold me accountable, it’s up to me to get all those required tasks done. Yes, things are different as I move into this second phase of life.

    Read More
  • Canyon De Chilly,  clouds,  Fujifilm X-E1,  landscape,  National Monuments,  National Parks,  snow,  sunrises

    Made It To Phoenix

    April 4, 2014

    Snow covered car and not my tent
    Snow covered car and not my tent

    Well, I arrived in to Phoenix yesterday evening about 6:30 pm, an hour later than I expected. Even though I left Cortez early I found myself stopping way too often. When I awoke I could hear the wet pavement from passing cars. But I was in for a surprise when I stepped outside my hotel room and found 2-3 inches of snow on my car. Glad I did not pitch the tent. 🙂 Below is an image taken just west of Cortez before sunrise. What a beautiful serene morning.

    Snow covered trees west of Cortez
    Snow covered trees west of Cortez

    Snow covered trees inside Canyon De Chilly
    Fresh snow inside Canyon De Chilly

    I arrived in  Canyon De Chilly about 9:00 in the morning and spent more time there than I expected, which was not enough time. The scenery was breath taking but not as much as the sacredness I felt there. There were very few visitors because of the cold and snow from the night before and it is still early in the season. Loved the quiet of walking to vistas and looking out over the canyon. I had no desire to leave and will  go back.

    Morning sun to melt the fresh snow
    Morning sun to melt the fresh snow

    I took the above image along Highway 191 in northeast Arizona. You can see the storm system that moved through yesterday on the eastern horizon. You can also see the dirt on my lens. 🙂

    Puffs of clouds to keep my company
    Puffs of clouds to keep my company on my drive

    If you enjoy scattered clouds against a blue sky then yesterday was the day for it.

    Painted Desert
    Painted Desert

    I also made a quick drive through the Petrified Forest National Park. It was more than I expected, the colors and art work of nature at it’s best can be found in Painted Desert area of the park. It is called the ‘badlands’ for a good reason but what beauty in such a desolate and harsh land. Now to relax and spend time with my parents and eat!

    Read More