Wednesday, May 20, 2026
Trying to get a good shot of the dogs is harder than it should be. They really dislike having something pointed at them. I have to be really fast before they turn away.
Here is Daisy, looking a little perturbed that she’s being subjected to all these photographs.
Monday, May 18, 2026
The very slow but steady march toward my film experiment continues with this absolutely beautiful Pentax Analog Spotmeter. I think it’s simply beautiful, and I love bringing it up to my eye, pulling the trigger, and getting my EV.
I grew up shooting and developing film. Trying to think back on how I metered and what techniques I used has left me with very little information—memories lost to time and buried under too many digital cameras. I can’t even remember the basic steps of developing film in the darkroom.
So, here I am with my grandfather’s Rolleiflex, two Pentax Spotmeters, film in the refrigerator, and the BeerPan 35mm pano camera on the way. Now it’s time to refresh those dark arts of film photography…
You can read how Ansel Adams did it and come away a little frustrated. There are plenty of videos online that will instruct you, but I was looking for something special—something that spoke to me: an instructor whose photography I deeply admired and who was willing to share their technique. I found Nick Carver. I don’t know Nick; I only recently found him on YouTube and have watched several of his videos. I liked his style, loved his photography, and he just so happens to have a course on manual metering for film. I don’t want the quick-and-dirty approach; I want to truly understand the hows and whys of it all, like I used to. Nick has put me on a good path toward understanding how to meter a photograph so it comes out right almost every time. With the cost of film and film developing, I don’t want to waste film learning the hard way.
Along with Nick, and with some very good courses from John Greengo, the lost knowledge is coming back. You know—the 18% gray card, the light meter that shows 0, meaning Middle Gray. The technique of shooting white and black cards at one-stop intervals until you lose detail, searching for your film’s dynamic range. Wonderful examples proving that light meters at zero are based on Middle Gray. The rule that says there is no “proper” or “right” exposure—only the exposure you want for that photograph. There is more to it than I remembered, but probably, back in high school, I wasn’t as interested in the deeper whys and hows. I am now.
The experiment continues with more learning. I haven’t even started figuring out how to get my negatives into the computer—scanning them, taking pictures of them—I have no idea. Then it’s out to the field for my first film shots in 30 years. I’m in no hurry; this is a journey that I’m enjoying every step of.
It’s fun. I love the process. I love learning. I love photography.
Let me leave you with the Filmomat (I got the link from Hiro’s newsletter). I watched the video, marveled at the technology, but started to think, “How much does this thing cost?” Well, check it out. I won’t be buying one 😂.
Monday, May 11, 2026
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.
😔
Friday, May 1, 2026
Pictures are from yesterday, hopefully you can forgive me!
You know, I persevered yesterday with the “Bone Leveler” and “Tissue Puncturer” after all!
I experimented with some new denoising software and was pretty happy with the results. Most of the time, it was a toss-up between DxO and Topaz Photo, but maybe more often than not, Topaz came out on top. I almost think Topaz comes out on top with their sharpening more than the denoise.
I can’t help but think how much better things would be if I could shoot these with the Nikon. At the very least, they wouldn’t be anywhere this noisy, and I’d have some more shadow recovery. You can see a couple of Nikon Full Frame Hummingbird shots down in Stray Pixels to compare. I didn’t even have to denoise on those shots, and I think they look much better than the OM shots.
You know what this means, don’t you? I need the Nikon Z8. Just Say’n.
Wednesday, December 24, 2025 →
Corvus Corax (295/365)
What lovely throat feathers (hackles) you have, kind sir.
Wednesday, December 17, 2025 →
Ah, You Gonna Fill This Thing Up? (288/365)
Wednesday, November 19, 2025 →
Pondering Life (260/365)
#365in2025
Bird is the Word (256/365)
#365in2025
Contemplative (252/365)
#365in2025
Rust Always Wins (251/365)
Surface Tension (248/365)
I found this guy hanging out at the pool, so I broke out the big lens and started shooting.
#365in2025
Silent Sunday (246/365)
#silentsunday
Grass of Fall (242/365)
Silent Sunday - Mono Lake (239/365)
#365in2025
One from the archives today.
Sunset or sunrise — I can’t quite remember now. I went out before sunset and stayed all night until dawn, shooting hundreds of frames, trying to refine my long exposure technique. It was one of the quietest, eeriest nights of my life.
I was completely alone in one of the darkest nights I had ever been in — yet I didn’t feel alone.
I wasn’t alone.
I could feel it… something, someone, from another time, another place, watching.
Together (232/365)
#365in2025
One from the archives today. Hope everyone is doing well.
Fat Tire (216/365)
Sand Shadow (182/365)
Two Pair (181/365)
Parking Brake Pull (179/365)
From Above (178/365)
One from the archives today. A tribute to all the firefighters out there working very long days. Thank you.
Sky Bird (173/365)
Super strong winds are producing some pretty cool cloud formations.
Sun Worship (171/365)
Well Worn (166/365)
Peace, My Friends, Peace (161/365)
#365in2025
Flower Power (159/365)
#365in2025
My Dad (157/365)
#365in2025
My M*A*S*H Dreams Come True (156/365)
One from the archives today. Selfie from many years ago, working on my commercial and instrument rotorcraft ratings in Ardmore, OK. All the Vietnam era vets who I flew with told me the best helicopter to learn in was the Bell 47. Even back then, not many places taught in the Bell 47. Thank goodness for Versatile Helicopters in Ardmore. I’ll never forget the time spent there.
#365in2025
Sun Powered SunFlowers 🌻 (140/365)
#365in2025
I’d be remiss if I didn’t add a Happy Canada Day as well! Cheers! 🇨🇦
Bee In Your Happy Place (135/365)
#365in2025
Happy (125/365)
It’s my niece’s birthday today and I sure wish I was in Germany to celebrate with her… Happy Birthday Bean.