• Camera Equipment,  moon,  Photography,  quotes

    Sigh!

    November 15, 2019
    One  of the first images I made with my first digital camera the Nikon D100

    “Photography is not about cameras, gadgets and gizmos. Photography is about photographers.
    A camera didn’t make a great picture any more than a typewriter wrote a great novel.”

    Peter Adams

    A few days ago Fujifilm announced the release of the pro Fujifilm X-T3 camera body and the new Fujifilm XF16-80mm f4.0 lens now in a kit. The lens is something I really want and will most likely buy in the future, but I really do not need the pro camera. However, in a very short time I was convincing myself I’d make better images with two new tools and my mind became totally occupied on working out a plan to justify the purchase of both. It took several hours of this mental masterbation before reality checked in and I knew that no lie could justify the purchase of both. Maybe I should post the above quote on my bathroom mirror to help me remember. Or, maybe I should sell my condo and buy the kit. Or, my car. I know, I’ll take out a second mortgage. Sell my oldest grandchild. Sigh!

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  • landscape,  moon,  quotes

    Seeking Wisdom

    September 21, 2019
    One of the first images of the moon I made with my Nikon D100 and Nikon 80-400mm lens back in 2003

    “Wisdom cannot be imparted. Wisdom that a wise man attempts to impart always sounds like foolishness to someone else … Knowledge can be communicated, but not wisdom. One can find it, live it, do wonders through it, but one cannot communicate and teach it.”

    Hermann Hesse, Siddhartha

    No, this post is not an attempt to impart what wisdom is because I agree with Hesse. It cain’t! However, if I can boldly say this, what wisdom I have found is from the knowledge I’ve gained from reading, study, learning from my mistakes, learning from those who have wisdom and made mistakes, my own inward spiritual journey and aware that what I think I think I know is not always so. Or, as Socrates says, “The only true wisdom is in knowing you know nothing.” Hopefully, many of us have a bit more wisdom than we did at the age of 20 or 40, that it’s a evolving process. There are those who think I have wisdom and those who think I’m foolish. Debating whether I have any wisdom or I’m just a fool is not the point of this post. The point is to share with you the desire I have to continue seeking wisdom, to live it, to do wonders through it! 

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  • John O'Donohue,  landscape,  moon,  moonrise,  Plants,  quotes,  trees

    Life Moves On

    September 11, 2019
    Sunset in Fort Collins taken in 2004

    “There was never a dawn, regardless how beautiful or promising, that did not grow into noontime. There was never a noon that did not fall into afternoon. There was never an afternoon that did not fade toward evening. There never was a day yet that did not get buried in the graveyard of the night.”

    John O’Donohue, Anam Cara
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  • Black and White,  Documentary/Street,  Fujifilm X-T10,  Fujifilm XF35mm f2.0,  lifestyles

    Life is Good

    October 25, 2018
    Grab Handles on the Bus
    Grab Handles on the Bus

    Standing passengers on public transportation hang on to handles, called strap-hangers. They intrigued me yesterday so I played around with different compositions and framing. There are now a few people who know I’m a bit insane and give me some distance. I’d like to share a story about one of the first times I began riding the bus. Forgive me if I’ve told this before.

    One morning when getting on I found it packed with students on their way to campus. There was no room to sit so I had to stand, grabbing a strap-hanger. This nice young man, calling me “Sir”, offered me his seat. After declining the offer I began to think about the generosity and concern of his offer for this older guy. I realized how much older I was than 95% of the kids on the bus. I also noticed the cute young lady he was sitting next to. So, the next time I ever encounter the same or similar situation I just may take up the offer, especially if she’s cute.  🙂

    This morning we have a full moon sitting just above the mountains to the west. In the east we have a radiant orange sky between the horizon and clouds. The day begins! I’m at Bindles on the hill looking out the east window over the Poudre River flowing in the valley below. Next to me is a mocha latte. Live is good! 

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  • moon

    Lunar Eclipse

    September 30, 2015

    Lunar Eclipse
    Lunar Eclipse

    I watched the supermoon from my condo, having no real interest in shooting images of it. However, I changed my mind and took a half dozen shots. Since I no longer have a focal length greater than 55mm this is it. I like how it turned out, giving a view of what the human eye sees rather than the typical closeup. This tree is in my front yard so I framed the moon with it and allowed the street light to illuminate the tree.

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  • Documentary/Street,  quotes

    Seeing

    September 3, 2015

    Moon and Architecture
    Moon and Architecture

    “Most importantly, remember that “seeing” is a life journey. Even if you got the right start and are doing all the right things, you WILL experience moments of weakness, doubt and discouragement. Put away your camera and take a rest. You won’t believe how much better you feel the next time you pick up your camera.” Olaf Sztaba

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  • landscape,  moonrise,  sunsets

    Even though I’d forgotten

    August 3, 2015

    Glowing Sunset
    Glowing Sunset

    Last Friday evening was to be a full moon. I forgot. But things worked out for me anyway. Friday was a day filled with clear blue skies, nary a cloud to be seen and hot. Even with that in mind I jumped in the car to drive out east on some country dirt road for some quiet and open space. I spent a good hour taking everything in, refreshing my soul, as they say. Without clouds to reflect the sun there was no red sky.

    I started home around 8:30 pm, after the sun had dropped behind the Rocky Mountain horizon. My route home was to drive south south on County Road 13. Just as I crested the ridge about a quarter mile down the road, I was greeted with a gorgeous view of the rising full moon in the east. I raced ahead and stopped at a couple of places where I figured I could get a decent photo. I have one decent image but, stopping, turning off the engine and taking it all in was what I needed. I was given a wonderful gift for a short period of time, even though I’d forgotten it was to be  full moon.

    Full Moon
    Full Moon

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  • Arapaho Bend Natural Area,  lake,  landscape,  moon,  natural areas,  sunrises

    Crescent Moon and Reflection

    September 26, 2014
    Crescent Moon and Reflection
    Crescent Moon and Reflection

    Here is another pre-dawn image from the Arapaho Bend Nature Area. I arrived earlier than expected so I walked along a narrow path to the North end of the pond, where I took the image. I spotted something dark on the path that startled me as I walk along in the dark. I chuckled when I realized it was a pile of horse manure. Nothing to be frightened with. Within seconds I found a second smaller pile, only this time I did not see it. Yep, I stepped in it. The life of a photographer. 🙂

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