iPhone

Hope (180/365)

Monday, June 29, 2026

Auto-generated description: A concrete wall displays the words CATHEDRAL OF HOPE in large, bold letters with trees visible in the background.

Some days, I feel like I have a cathedral’s worth of hope; other days, I feel as though all hope is lost.

Hotel Glass (179/365)

Sunday, June 28, 2026

Auto-generated description: A cityscape at dusk is seen through a window reflecting an interior scene with a lit lamp, furniture, and a person.

Woke up early, opened the blinds, and thought the reflection was kind of cool.

Was stuck in a box all day and thought a nice walk outside would be nice. I only made it 2.5 miles/4 km in 96°F/35°C temps, with 57% humidity.

May your troubles be less, and your blessings be more, and nothing but happiness come through your door!

Bread-making day today. We have a small local bakery close to us that we really want to keep in business, so we purchase most of our bread and croissants from them, but we still make some bread at home. It’s fun and something that my wife and I can do together. I say together, but she does most of the work. My main job is Sourdough Maintainer. I’ve made and maintained a sourdough starter since I was in my early 20s. Not sure why, I just always thought it was cool. I keep a small batch healthy and happy to use in bread and pancakes. If you want a resource for sourdough, here is a good one.

Worked most of the day in the office on learning more about photo scanning, posting about having a Life Manifesto on Cliff538.com, and I wanted to make a dedicated page for my foray back into film before I got too deep into the weeds and started to forget things. Just a page to list out my posts and the resources I have found worthy in this journey for anyone interested in exploring film or film scanning. Plus, it’s for me to look back and reference things. You can see it here.

I also really enjoyed Jasper’s: Kent 1, Kent 2, and Kent 3? series. Great photos from a part of the world I haven’t spent that much time in. And this great YouTube video about the very last Polaroid factory in the Netherlands. I had no idea how complex it is. Great behind-the-scenes look. It will help you understand why film is so expensive. Haven’t looked at Polaroid recently? Check out their cameras, film and printers. The factory now employs about 150 people; in its heyday, it was 1200+. The film is still supported in cameras that are 50 years old, kudos to Polaroid for always supporting their legacy cameras. Blue pasta goop, pudding, roller pressure, aging, spread factors, it’s incredibly complex to maintain legacy cameras with the new film. You get to see the old 8x10 peel-apart machinery, which they only run from time to time, hence the perpetual shortage. They love 8x10 and say they have no plans to stop producing it. The machines are old and finicky and in desperate need of an overhaul.

For a cool Polaroid website, check out Dan’s Polaroids.

Long Live Film 🎞️

Texture (174/365)

Tuesday, June 23, 2026

Auto-generated description: An abstract textured painting features rough, layered patches of dark brown and gold hues against a muted gray-blue background.

Sad day for taking photos, but a good day on the film scanning front!

More down in Stray Pixels about the film journey.

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Film Journey:

Today was mostly an office day to see if I could do my own scans of my negatives and get them close to the professional lab results.

I’m going to post the professional lab scans, then my camera scans. My goal is to be able to scan my own negatives and at least come close to lab-quality. I know labs vary widely, and I only have one lab to compare to right now, but I don’t think mine are that bad, especially for my first attempt. There is a pretty steep learning curve, and I’m sure I’ll get better as I learn more and practice. Please ignore the photo content; these were test shots to make sure my grandfather’s Rollei was still working, and my light metering technique was working. I was just shooting random stuff around the house. Oh, and ignore the dust! My word, the dust on my black-and-white negatives was horrible. I’m going to have to be way more careful in the future.

I’m also going to have to decide where I’m going to document my film journey. Here in Stray Pixels, or I should probably just make a proper page over on Cliff538.com. I will give this some thought.

The last photo is a Vlads Test Target. It’s a simple concept that works really well for testing sharpness, especially in the photo corners. Setting up your camera and film scanner so that everything is straight and parallel is really important. Then figure out which aperture setting on your lens gives you the best focus, especially in the corners. I was using f/8 on my lens, and there is some softness in the corners. This warrants some testing with other apertures.

I used my Nikon Z8 with an MC 105/2.8 lens and a Valoi 360 system. Processed with LightRoom Classic and Negative Lab Pro.

All shots taken with a Rolleiflex. The color film was Kodak Portra 400, and the B&W was Ilford HP5 400.

Coffee + Peace = Good Start To The Day (173/365)

Monday, June 22, 2026

Auto-generated description: A pathway lined with palm trees and string lights leads to a building with a domed tower, illuminated softly at dusk.

Four A.M. sharp is van time. I was out by the curb early with a cup of coffee, sitting in the dawn’s first light, all alone, listening as the birds slowly woke and began announcing the day. A peaceful little pocket of quiet before the hectic day ahead: airports, crowds, and full aluminum tubes streaking through the air at 500 miles per hour.

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Auto-generated description: A tall pole equipped with several large spotlights and surveillance cameras stands next to a curved, ribbed roof under a clear sky.

Auto-generated description: A modern airport terminal with large glass windows and an adjacent parking or service area is illuminated by tall light poles during dusk or dawn.

Danger (172/365)

Sunday, June 21, 2026

Auto-generated description: A metal hatch with warning labels indicating danger and caution against placing hands in the opening, featuring a partially open flap.

Four legs today. Only an hour late by the end of the day. Not too bad for Summer flying.

Pro Tip: If you are traveling by air, take the first few flights out in the morning. Morning flights always leave on time. These planes fly all day long, and by early afternoon, they are running hours late due to mechanicals, weather, and a hundred other reasons. Do yourself a favor, and fly out early. I know it’s hard to get up early, but it’s better than getting to the airport only to be 3+ hours delayed or canceled.

Architectural Curves (171/365)

Saturday, June 20, 2026

Auto-generated description: A black and white photo capturing the architectural curves and lines of a multi-level parking structure viewed through a window frame.

What a day. Full airplanes, lots of thunderstorms, delays, holding, waiting, plane changes, and more! Glad to be done. 10 hours' rest, and let’s go do it again. Let’s get people where they want to go!

Weak photo today, but it’s the only one from today.

Hope it was a great day, thank you for stopping by.

Queue (166/365)

Monday, June 15, 2026

Auto-generated description: A jet airliner is positioned on a runway, viewed from the rear.

Grabbed these shots while riding in the back. It’s amazing what you can get through a little plastic window. Timing is everything.

Dorothy said it best, “There’s no place like home.”

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Auto-generated description: Dramatic clouds cast sun rays over a vast, shadowed landscape in a black-and-white scene.

Auto-generated description: A stark, monochrome photograph shows the sharp, angular lines of a modern building against a cloudy sky.

Look Up (165/365)

Sunday, June 14, 2026

Auto-generated description: A black and white perspective shot of modern architectural structures with vertical and horizontal lines against a partly cloudy sky.

Last overnight in CUN, thank goodness. It’s so hot and humid here; I just can’t do it. I’m done until next winter.

A couple of decent shots and a number of unpublishable ones today. Some shots you think will be good just don’t turn out.

Nice weather, full airplanes, and on time, no drama, and no mechanical issues—all make for a good day.

Stray Pixels

Auto-generated description: A tropical resort is silhouetted against the evening sky, illuminated by sparse lights and framed by a prominent palm tree.

Tail View (164/365)

Saturday, June 13, 2026

Auto-generated description: The black and white photo captures the underside of an aircraft's wing, with a vast landscape and horizon stretching below.

Nice day at work. Good weather and easy flying. Overnighting in SJC, and it’s crazy busy here. I guess there is a World Cup game(s) going on right now.

Hope everyone had a good day.

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Auto-generated description: A silhouetted aircraft tail fin is juxtaposed against a bright sky with a small moon visible in the background.

photo

Resort Lines (159/365)

Monday, June 8, 2026

Auto-generated description: A stone walkway curves between modern buildings and lush greenery under a clear sky.

Ah, road life. Not always fun or pleasant. Another rough night’s sleep. The resort limits how cold you can make the room, and it’s just too hot for me. I like to sleep cold. But mediocre coffee and a good breakfast shake off the lack of sleep this morning.

Out walking this morning, I was wondering why some bushes are filled with purple flowers while another right next to them is bare. You can see down in Stray Pixels, why.

Well, the plane is already over an hour late; it might be a long day, life on the road.

Cheers.

Stray Pixels

Auto-generated description: A large lizard is resting on a bed of green foliage with small purple flowers.

Auto-generated description: A close-up view of a palm leaf shows its intricate, radiating pattern and fine lines.

Tail Lines (158/365)

Sunday, June 7, 2026

Auto-generated description: A black and white photo capturing an airplane wing with a small bright moon in the clear sky.

Back in Cancun. Hot and humid, and the resort is dead. Nobody is here. It’s so nice and quiet. Walking back to my room, I came across this male Baltimore Oriole. Blurry shots, but he was moving fast, and all I had was my iPhone. Such vivid colors.

Hope it was a good day!

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Auto-generated description: A vibrant orange and black bird with a long tail perches among lush green leaves and small yellow flowers.

Auto-generated description: A vibrant orange and black bird is perched on a tree branch surrounded by lush green leaves.

Auto-generated description: A vibrant orange and black bird with white markings perches amid lush green foliage.

Auto-generated description: Palm trees sway against a backdrop of a dramatic, cloud-filled sky at what appears to be a coastal resort.

Work.Work.Work. (157/365)

Saturday, June 6, 2026

Auto-generated description: A black and white photograph captures an airport tarmac with airplanes, vehicles, and distant hills under an expansive sky.

Pretty sad day on the photo front. Had a terrible night’s sleep, got up at 2:30 in the morning, and had a long day. My only shots were early this morning, thank goodness I took those. Time for sleep.

Shot and processed on the iPhone.

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Auto-generated description: A grid pattern of rectangular metallic vents is arranged in a repeating sequence.

Color & Shadow (154/365)

Wednesday, June 3, 2026

Auto-generated description: A lush bush of vibrant pink flowers casts its shadow on the ground amidst a desert landscape, with two people’s shadows partially visible.

Another crazy busy day. Up at 4 am, to drop my better half off at the airport to go see the grandkids. So that leaves me with dog-walking duty. Out into the heat for a 4 miler. The dogs looked at me funny because “Mom” always does 7+ with them. Hey, I got things to do.

Then chores and office work. I love the term “Office Work” because for me, that usually means hobby stuff! Today I completed my current printing class and did some more hard proofing. I love holding prints in my hand. If you haven’t printed any of your photography in a while, please do so. It feels good. It looks good. There is NO comparison to looking at a print on screen vs holding a print on good paper. I have a zine from Florian - I love looking at this thing. It’s beautiful to hold photography in your hand. Trust me.

So, that meant no photography time today, so you get one of the dogs and me by this very pretty flowering bushy thing…

I’m off on a trip soon, but I’m very excited to get home. I’ve carved out 2 or 3 days of just shooting pictures time. I don’t know where I’m going yet or what I’m doing, but I’ll be out there for sunrise and sunset for sure. Even in these nasty 42 °C / 107 °F temperatures. Tickle me excited.

If you’re reading this, you actually stopped by my blog. Thank you. I appreciate you. I hope it was an amazing day.

Never Stop Learning!

P.S. Three photo blogs that I look at every week, or whenever they post: (and I think you should also) Florian.photo & Jasper.Tandy.is & Daniel Pietzsch’s Photo Journal Dan also has a very cool Polaroid page.

Richard Gross 1947 - 2026 (152/365)

Monday, June 1, 2026

Auto-generated description: A black and white photo of a cityscape with a reflected skyline is framed and displayed on a patterned wall.

Auto-generated description: A black-and-white photograph of a building is mounted on a patterned quilted background with shadows cast across it.

Auto-generated description: A memorial card features a person with a camera, commemorating Richard Paul Gross from 1947 to 2026.

Emotional day.

We went over to Richard’s house to meet with his wife and son. We had a good talk, told some stories, and shared good memories. They were very gracious to let us pick out a few of Richard’s photos to keep in his memory. I will proudly have these on my office wall. I miss our Flickr chats, seeing Richard out on his morning walk, and talking about woodworking…

Miss you, friend.

Down in Stray Pixels, a few shots from yesterday turned out pretty well for iPhone shots. Craig, Richard’s son, wanted a picture of mine printed that he and his dad had commented on before he passed, as a memory. I’m working on some color correction and testing some new photo papers to get a worthy print for him.

It was nice to fiddle around with photography and printing today while I thought about Richard.

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Auto-generated description: A Canon printer is printing two vibrant photos featuring a close-up of a purple flower and a dragonfly.

Auto-generated description: A printer is producing a sheet with vivid photographs of a dragonfly and a flower.

Auto-generated description: Dramatic, fluffy clouds fill the sky in a striking black and white scene.

Auto-generated description: A British Airways airplane is taxiing on the runway at sunset.

Richmond (150/365)

Saturday, May 30, 2026

Auto-generated description: A large window at an airport terminal displays the word RICHMOND in big, bold letters.

First time in Richmond. Not enough time to explore the city, hopefully next time. Good day out in the skies, only 40 minutes late by the end of the day. Lots of thunderstorms and turbulence today, glad to be done. Ended up in Cancun, time for a good rest.

Gear (149/365)

Friday, May 29, 2026

Big Sky (146/365)

Tuesday, May 26, 2026

Auto-generated description: A rural landscape features a dirt road curving through open fields with a lone tree and a vast, cloudy sky above.

Another great day of biking through some spectacular nature.

Shot and processed on iPhone.

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Auto-generated description: A mountain biking trail winds through a scenic forest of tall pine trees under a clear blue sky.

What A Day (145/365)

Monday, May 25, 2026

Auto-generated description: A scenic view of a lush green forest with distant cliffs and a partly cloudy sky in the background.

Great day out exploring and mountain biking. Not very many pictures today, I’m really out of shape, it took all my energy just to stay on the bike. Add in an elevation of 7300', and I was toast.

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Auto-generated description: A black and white landscape shows a mountainous view with trees in the foreground under a cloudy sky.

Power To The People (144/365)

Sunday, May 24, 2026

Auto-generated description: A black and white landscape features power lines stretching into the distance amidst trees and grassy terrain, with large rocks in the foreground.

A little road trip up to Flagstaff, AZ, for some hiking and biking to escape the already oppressive heat in Phoenix. Shot and processed on iPhone. Summer is filling me with dread. I need to move North. Way North.

It’s always been a fascinating topic for me: where you live and why. I’m envious of the people who can say, “I live here, I love it here, and I’ll get the best job I can here, because I love it.” On the other side of the coin are the people who say, “I’ll live anywhere for the job that I love. My job comes first; I’ll make do wherever I am.” Guess which camp I’m in…

I’m seeing a positive trend with younger people I fly with: they’re putting quality of life first. Where they live comes first, and how much they work comes second. They’re putting family and time off first—something we never did, and we’re paying the price for that attitude later in life.

Anyway, I digress. A topic for another day.

I hope it was a good day. Thank you for stopping by.

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Auto-generated description: A row of tall power lines stretches through a scenic forested area under a clear blue sky.

A Little Walk Around Seattle (142/365)

Friday, May 22, 2026

Auto-generated description: A seagull stands on a perch overlooking a large body of water in a black and white photo.

Beautiful day in SEA, a short walk and halibut fish & chips make for a nice day.

iPhone shot and processed—more pics down in Stray Pixels.

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Auto-generated description: A snow-capped mountain peak rises above a layer of clouds with dark, rugged terrain below.

Auto-generated description: A black and white photograph of a modern, tall office building with numerous windows, captured from a low-angle perspective.

Auto-generated description: A black and white photo of the PUBLIC MARKET CENTER sign with a large clock and a building in the background.

Auto-generated description: People are walking in an outdoor market area with a large sign for Public Market visible against a clear sky.

Auto-generated description: A waterfront boardwalk features people relaxing on benches under a string of lights, with a picturesque view of water and clouds in the sky.

Auto-generated description: A neon sign advertising Buca, an Italian restaurant with wine, glows vibrantly in shades of red, blue, and green against an urban backdrop. — Final shot in IND this morning at 4 A.M.

A Little Walk Around Indianapolis (141/365)

Thursday, May 21, 2026

Auto-generated description: A city street view showcases tall buildings framing a prominent monument in the distance, under a cloudy sky.

On the road, I had a few hours to wander around downtown Indianapolis before bed—another early morning ahead.

Shot and processed on iPhone. More photos down in Stray Pixels.

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Auto-generated description: A black and white photograph of a high-rise building's exterior featuring repetitive window patterns and metallic façade.

Auto-generated description: A city street scene features modern architecture, towering buildings, and a partly cloudy sky.

Auto-generated description: A modern high-rise building features a grid of reflective glass windows.

Auto-generated description: A building facade featuring a series of large rectangular windows framed by vertical metal panels with discoloration and weathering.

Auto-generated description: A grid of rectangular golden tiles creates a reflective pattern.

Auto-generated description: A hot dog stand with a red banner is set up in a plaza near a tall monument, surrounded by modern buildings under a cloudy sky.

Auto-generated description: An airport terminal at night is bustling with several airplanes parked at gates, illuminated by airport lights. — A shot from PHX this morning at 4 AM.

Mockup (137/365)

Sunday, May 17, 2026

Auto-generated description: A cockpit panel with various instrumentation and controls is displayed against a plain background.

What a day. The alarm went off at 3 A.M. Dallas time, which is 1 A.M. local time for me. Talk about painful. I was main-lining coffee until I was vibrating. Good day in the training center, then a completely full flight home. I’m still amazed that everyone is still flying. Planes are packed. Which, on the bright side, is good for my job. (but, I’m still going to complain, it would be nice to have center seats open…)

Another tough day for pictures. I got what I got.

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4 A.M. Tree

Architectural Lines (136/365)

Saturday, May 16, 2026

Auto-generated description: A modern architectural structure features sleek geometric lines, a large cylindrical column, and a view of the sky and trees.

Busy day today, just a few shots to pick from.

iPhone shot and processed.

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Auto-generated description: A close-up black and white photograph of a hibiscus flower's stamen and petals.

Auto-generated description: A close-up of a vibrant red hibiscus flower displays its detailed petals and prominent yellow stamen.

Glass Clouds (135/365)

Friday, May 15, 2026

Auto-generated description: A modern building with a wavy glass facade is under a sky filled with wispy clouds, featuring a sign that reads UT DALLAS.

Flare! (134/365)

Thursday, May 14, 2026

Auto-generated description: A bird is perched on a chimney while another bird flies nearby, silhouetted against a bright sky.

Tough day on the photo front. Lots of airport time and deadheading. Finished another book, though, and got a good start on another. All is not lost.

Another three days at the training center ahead of me.

iPhone shot and processed. 100mm f2.8 48MP RAW

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Auto-generated description: Several airplanes are parked at an airport terminal under a clear blue sky.

Tribute To My Friend Richard (131/365)

Monday, May 11, 2026

Auto-generated description: A small bird is perched on a branch, silhouetted against a blurred background of leaves.

Auto-generated description: A hummingbird hovers in mid-air near a red bird feeder.

Auto-generated description: A hummingbird is captured mid-flight against a blurred natural background.

Auto-generated description: A silhouette of an airport control tower is set against a warm, orange sunset sky.

Auto-generated description: Silhouetted palm trees stand against a gradient sunset sky.

My friend Richard died this morning in his sleep.

Today’s pictures are dedicated to him. I took them yesterday—Richard’s last day, at least here on Earth. These pictures are for him. Richard may have commented on one or two of them on Flickr. I will miss that.

I will never forget Richard. I did not know him for very long, but he was such an amazing human being—so kind, so talented. Richard was a husband, father, grandfather, teacher, artist, woodworker, photographer, and so much more—a wonderful photographer with a unique style. He had many art shows featuring his work, and I was lucky enough to see a few of them.

We lived close to each other and consulted on projects from time to time. We texted and communicated on Flickr. Richard loved Flickr and had so many Flickr friends.

You will be greatly missed, my friend. You made me a better human. You gave me so many creative ideas and inspired me.

Wherever you are, my friend, take some pictures and send them to me…

The last comment from Richard on Flickr to me.

Richards last photo on Flickr.

😔

Wing Reflections (130/365)

Sunday, May 10, 2026

Auto-generated description: An airplane wing with a colorful winglet is seen against a clear sky.

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Auto-generated description: A black and white architectural perspective features a modern building facade with circular designs and linear elements against a cloudy sky.

Concrete & Sky (129/365)

Saturday, May 9, 2026

A modern building facade features large circular patterns and geometric lines against a blue sky.

Hot Box (128/365)

Friday, May 8, 2026

Auto-generated description: A flight simulator resembling the cockpit of an aircraft is mounted on a platform with hydraulic legs.

Work. Work. Work. Lots of training.