• Candid Portraits,  Documentary/Street,  lifestyles,  People/Portraits,  quotes

    You never know….

    Approaching Pitkin and Meridian bus stop

    Jay Maisel always says to bring your camera, ‘cause it’s tough to take a picture without it. Pursuant to the above aforementioned piece of the rule book, subset three, clause A, paragraph four would be…use the camera. Put it to your eye. You never know. There are lots of reasons, some of them even good, to just leave it on your shoulder or in your bag. Wrong lens. Wrong light. Aaahhh, it’s not that great, what am I gonna do with it anyway? I’ll have to put my coffee down. I’ll just delete it later, why bother? Lots of reasons not to take the dive into the eyepiece and once again try to sort out the world into an effective rectangle. It’s almost always worth it to take a look. – Joe McNally 

  • Black and White,  Candid Portraits,  coffee shops,  People/Portraits

    These Tools

    My camera is a tool to capture moments of time, like someone enjoying morning coffee. My journal is a tool to slow down the chatter of the mind, a diary of the days events and an ongoing letter to the Divine. My books are a tool that provide seeds, where words take root within the soul. Prayer and contemplation are tools that allows me to stay quiet, resting in the Presence. These tools help in the transformation of the way I see and live in the world. And, I guess you can say coffee shops and mocha lattes are a tool. What are some of your tools?
  • Camera Equipment,  Fujifilm X-E1,  Fujifilm X-T10,  landscape,  mountains,  Photography,  sunsets

    A Better Photographer

    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
  • Plants,  snow,  trees

    Stay Warm

    Cold. That pretty much describes the weather for the past week. We had a couple inches of snow on December 30 and with the cold it’s still on the ground.

    Since I’m not a party person I was under the covers with a book by 9:00 pm on New Years Eve. However, I was up early on New Years day, put on a crockpot of chicken tortilla soup then met  a longtime friend for coffee. Later in the afternoon, even though it was still cold, I ventured out for a walk with my camera.  I might as well start my new year with camera in my hand. And, it’s the same camera as the past 3 years. Hope everyone enjoyed their holidays. And, stay warm!

  • Camera Equipment,  flowers,  Fujifilm X-T10,  Plants

    It Was an Accident

    Rose of Sharon

    While wandering around the backyard of my sisters I decided to take an image of this Rose of Sharon. After pressing the shutter buton I noticed a pause in the camera and a message in my EVF that said saving. This is not normal. So after some troubleshooting I discovered I’d somehow moved the drive dial to Adv1 setting. This had placed to camera into creating an image to duplicate a toy camera. I liked how they adjusted the image. So, by accident I found something I will use in some situations. This the untouched image it produced.

     

  • insects,  quotes

    Walking With My Camera 

    Dragonfly
    Dragonfly

    Took my camera for a walk yesterday. All images taken with the Fujifilm 35mm f2.0 lens and handheld. Both images are 100%, or greater, crops.

    Black and White Fly
    Black and White Fly

    “Every human being needs a contemplative practice, perhaps gazing at nature in wonder, with a camera or paint brush, taking time.”

    Thomas Moore
  • Art/Design,  Camera Equipment,  Fujifilm X-T10,  winter scenes

    I’m Impressed

    An Unshoveled SIdewalk
    An Unshoveled Sidewalk

    I was impressed with the focusing ability and speed for the Fujifilm X-T10 combined with the Fujifilm 35mm 2.0 lens. I saw this low contrast scene with the light shadows on the snow and wanted an image. I turned the camera on with my index finger and increased the exposure with my thumb while I raised the camera to my eye. In my mind I was thinking I’d have to manually focus this scene because of the lack of contrast but this pair immediately snapped on focus. Yes, I am impressed. Stay warm

  • Camera Equipment,  Fujifilm X-T10,  journal

    Simplified

    The X-T10 with 27mm f2.8 lens and my journal.
    The X-T10 with 27mm f2.8 lens and my journal.

    This is pretty much all I carry with me in my backpack, anymore. One camera, one lens. My journal and pen. Kindle paperwhite. A light jacket. Sometimes I throw in a small “10” Chromebook. The kitchen sink. And, I don’t usually carry this much cash with me, either. 🙂