• Camera Equipment,  Candid Portraits,  Cityscapes/Urban,  Fujifilm X-E1

    Okay, I pulled the trigger …

    October 24, 2013
    Fujifilm X-E1 with18-55m f2.8-4.0
    Fujifilm X-E1 with 18-55m f2.8-4.0 – Cropped

    … and bought the Fijifilm X-E1 and the kit lens, the 18-55m f2.8-4.0. Yes I know they just came out with an updated version appropriately called the X-E2. However, because of the new camera the price dropped significantly for me to purchase the X-E1. I also had a gift certificate which helped. I’ve lusted for this camera every since it came out almost a year ago.

    All 5 of these images were shot in “Professional Mode”, fine jpeg format and straight out the camera (except where noted). No sharpening, no tone adjustments. Nothing. I framed the image and pressed the shutter button. My intent was  to see what the camera was capable of doing. First impressions are positive. It is built solid and weighs more than I expected with that zoom lens. Love the tightness of the zoom ring and the soft click of the aperture ring. Since it is a rangefinder style camera, and the first one I’ve ever owned, I feel awkward but don’t expect that to last very long.

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  • Candid Portraits,  coffee shops,  Documentary/Street,  People/Portraits

    The more you read …..

    October 22, 2013
    Study Time
    Study Time

    “The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” ― Dr. Seuss

    Living near a college campus allows me to see many students sitting at a coffee shop with a cup of coffee or tea and an open book before them. We call it study time. We are all students whether working on that college degree, studying for a real estate license, self improvement, learning a second language, studying the bible or our drivers test. With a notebook and pencil we work on notes for a term paper, or highlight some paragraph or verse that’s important. On my first glance I was taken with this woman’s hands. As a photographer I wanted a photo of her beautiful hands. With her permission I took couple of photos to show off those hands and tell of someone who is reading and learning. Who knows where it will take us.

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  • Candid Portraits,  coffee shops,  Documentary/Street

    Lost in His Thoughts

    October 5, 2013
    His Coffee Shop
    Lost in his Thoughts

    One thing I did on this trip I just finished, was take my time. I made no schedule. I took rest breaks while driving and used this time for sight seeing. Strange how we see more when we slow down. The rest stops allowed me to check out several small coffee shops that would catch my attention. There were a couple times I drove around the block just to get back to them. I found this one in Glenwood Springs along Interstate 70 in Colorado. The city is known for its hot springs, fly fishing, rafting, kayaking, biking, Glenwood Caverns and is the turnoff to Aspen ski area. I found the Bluebird Cafe along Grand Avenue. And, with a parking spot in front I had to stop. The man in the photo had the place to himself until I arrived then it was just the two of us for a while. He must have had something on his mind because he stayed in this position for about 45 minutes. Totally lost in his thoughts.

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  • Candid Portraits,  People/Portraits

    Bored

    August 10, 2013
    Bored
    Wynston

    One of the toughest things we go through as children is waiting on adults to finish their conversations or whatever they are doing that ignores us. And, this is especially true when we have so many other things to do in life such as playing frisbee, hide and seek, slaying dragons, baseball, make music with the silverware, etc.

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