Let's call it a photo dump
Been trying out a few new things. While not cohesive, here are some results.
Emergence
Spring is…trying to emerge…and so am I.
As winter has been trying to thaw, I’ve been trying to be a bit more intentional about picking up a camera. Lately, that looks like going for a quick walk with our dog, Copper. He and I will just head out, me with camera in hand. The intention is to practice more thoughtful observation while taking photos…or not. To reignite spontaneity and why I love photography in the first place.
Here are a few captures from the past week or so. How are you emerging from winter?
X-T5 // 100-400mm
Views from the Window
I'm sitting here today thinking back on the breathtaking views on my flight to Alaska last August, which left a lasting impression on me. The rugged and varied landscape seemed untouched by human interference, creating a sense of awe and wonder within me. Even now, I am left with a feeling of emptiness and epicness when I think back on those views.
As the plane flew over endless plains, jagged mountains, and winding rivers, I couldn't help but get lost in the beauty of it all. The colors were so vibrant and the textures so rich that I felt as though I was a spectator to a spectacular show.
But as much as I marveled at the landscape, I also couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness. It was a reminder of how much we take for granted in our everyday lives, and how much we have destroyed in the name of progress. Yet, there was still hope. From above, I could see the pristine parks and conservation areas that have been put in place to protect the world from us. But it was clear that there is still so much more we can do to preserve the planet we call home.
As I continued to gaze out the window, my mind was filled with thoughts and emotions that I can't quite put into words. But one thing was for sure, the views from that window seat will stay with me for a lifetime. They were a reminder of the power and majesty of nature, and the importance of doing everything we can to protect it.
What do you think?
FUJI X-T3 // 16-55mm f/2.8 from 30,000 feet :D
Unreal.
Basilique Notre Dame de Montreal
A quick post with a few photos of Basilique Notre Dame de Montreal from our visit in October 2022. If you get the chance to visit, this is a must-see.
FUJIFILM X-T3 & 16-55mm f/2.8
Montreal Botanical Gardens
It's hard to describe how beautiful the Montreal Botanical Gardens are.
In the heart of Montreal, these gardens provide a lush oasis of beauty and tranquility and as you wander through the park, you will be greeted by a wide variety of exotic and colourful flowers. The greenhouses boast a number of different plants from all around the world, including cacti, orchids, bonsai and tropical foliage. The outdoor gardens feature different kinds of trees, shrubs and plants, which are arranged in a european-style walking garden. There are also sculpture gardens and a Chinese and Japanese garden, making the park a multisensory experience. You can explore the gardens at your own pace, walking, biking or riding the historic steam train. Our visit to the Montreal Botanical Gardens was an unforgettable experience.
FUJI X-T3 & 16-55mm f/2.8
COLORFUL Details
Next Up: Notre-Dame Basilica
Montreal: Old Town
You ever find yourself in a place where you have too much to share, so you end up not sharing anything? That's me right now.
Gotta start somewhere though, so here goes: Montreal.
Back on October we decided to take a quick weekend away and head to Montreal’s Old Town. If you have never been, the Old Town is truly a sight to behold. From the cobblestone streets to the centuries-old architecture, the energy of the area is uniquely European. You can step into a cafe, taste the pastries and feel the warmth of the fireplace. Wander through the small alleyways and discover hidden gems. Everywhere you turn you will find something unique and captivating. Walking through the narrow streets, you can feel the history of the area and the sense of community that exists there. It's a vibrant and lively neighborhood that invites you to explore and get lost. Every corner you turn will bring you exciting new surprises. Montreal's Old Town is an wonderful experience that will leave you wanting to come back again and again. I know I do!
Next up: Montreal Botanical Gardens
OCTOBER 2022 // FUJI X-T3 & 35mm f/1.4
Exploring New Horizons: Previewing My Travels and Photographic Projects
It has been relatively quiet here lately, but I have been quite occupied with my travels these past few months! I have been all around the world, from Alaska to Switzerland, capturing and processing pictures at each destination. I am getting very close to the end of a few of my projects and I am now prepared to share more than just Instagram posts, so this post will provide a brief glimpse of the content you can expect to see in the weeks and months ahead. I am also making strides to streamline my workflow, with the help of Craft AI, a rekindled interest in Lightroom Classic, and my new Macbook Pro.
I plan to start with some of my favorite subjects, such as landscapes and portraiture. I will also be sharing some of my other random photography, as I love capturing the energy of the people I meet and the places I visit.
I'm looking forward to this next set of adventures, and I hope you all enjoy them as much as I will! Be sure to stay tuned for upcoming posts about my travels and photographic projects. Until then, happy shooting!
Fujifilm X-T5
It has been a few years since I bought a new camera body. There have been a few that I considered picking up out of pure interest - X100V & X-Pro 3 are always tempting me - but I haven’t felt compelled to upgrade. This feeling is in large part because while gear does matter, I firmly believe that it doesn’t usually matter all that much when balanced against foundational skills. I think of it like buying a new stove in the hope of becoming a better chef. While the stove may offer new features, if you are a good cook you will remain a good cook. Stoves, like cameras, are tools to create and they generally improve incrementally.
For example, the Fuji X-T3 that I have is still more than adequate to get me through trips to Alaska, Europe, and all over the continental US. It has rarely failed me. Like the X-T1 before it, I am sure that it will continue to see use. They both are fantastic tools to create wonderful photos. But, there does come a time when the simple interest in new kit is met with a really compelling cost/benefit analysis. Enter the X-T5.
I won’t bore you with all of the specs, you can see them here, but suffice it to say that when the opportunity to upgrade from a 26mp to 40mp sensor with in-body image stabilization (IBIS) arose, I jumped at the opportunity. That’s not to say that extra megapixels are critical, they are not, but as I have been printing more often, the extra real estate does come in handy.
What has become incredibly useful, however, has been IBIS. The ability to stabilize older lenses like the 35mm f/1.4 and shoot in ultra-low light without compromising ISO performance has re-invigorated that lens…and the 35mm f/1.4 doesn’t even benefit from all of the features! Hand-holding the 100-400mm in similar conditions has also seen similar benefits. I am so excited to see what new and interesting conditions I can play in and that is what it is all about.
Ultimately, I skipped over the X-T4 because I didn’t see enough value in the cost analysis. This camera, however, allows me to take the skills that I have honed over the past decade(s) and tightens up it’s performance to match my artistic vision more effectively. Let’s play.
Product Shots: Fuji X-T3 w/50-140mm — Demo Shots: Fuji X-T5 w/35mm & 50-140mm
Night City
I’ve really been enjoying night photography lately. Here are a few shots from the past week.
FUJI X-T3 // 100-400mm
Oh, Happy Day!
After a few years of COVID, I was so thankful to have a great reason to get together with extended family! Wouldn’t have missed this wedding for anything. Congrats Brandon & Gabrielle!
FUJI X-T3 // 35MM f/1.4
Eclipse & Cityscapes
A few shots from Tuesday night’s eclipse. Fortunate to get the opportunity to shoot from the top of the Metropolitan building (thanks Ralph Dandrea for making it happen!) More to come!
FUJI X-T3 // 100-400mm & 35mm
Nearly a year later...
Is this thing on? I’m back and just got done shooting photos for The Travis Prinzi Band.
While I’m at it, I’ve been feeling the urge to find another way to share photos, etc. that is not building Meta’s platform or contributing to the Elon Musk Twitter hellscape. So, here we are :)
Hopefully I can keep some momentum going because I have a TON of photos queued up (Montreal, Alaska, etc.) I hope you enjoy and please feel free to contact me with any thoughts or suggestions.
M
W08: Another World
My headspace is a bit off lately. Over the past two weeks, we lost a dear family member. And while it has been difficult processing the loss for myself, it has been more difficult for me to watch our boys process the loss — as I believe this is the first death that has really connected for them. Mortality and all that…
Understandably, I’m finding myself more introspective than usual, but with that comes a bit of listlessness. So, here we are. A few photos from the week. If I were to analyze the subjects, I’d say that I am pulling inward, getting close and focusing on the details. I’m OK with that.
All shots were taken in the back yard, but I can’t help but feel like I’m in another world.
W07: Retreat
This week was filled with a few significant ups and downs personally. I often find that retreating to nature is one of the best ways for me to gather my thoughts, renew my spirit and push on. In that way, this week was no different.
Software in the Way
For the past year or so, I’ve diligently tried to convert my workflow to Lightroom CC. As a person who rides a motorcycle, I was mostly just curious if I could make an iPad/Mobile-only workflow work because maximum portability is an attractive proposition. Turns out that while I have had some success, it’s time to let the experiment die. The software feels like it is blocking me from what I want to do…take photos.
So, back to the old workflow. Macbook + Lightroom Classic + cloud syncing. I lose a few things by going backwards, but I found returning to the old habits to be welcome and liberating. If you’d like to hear more about the past year, let me know in the comments. Maybe I’ll work up an in-depth review/experience post.
Until then, here are a few photos that I shot over the past few months. Nothing special, just playing around…and feeling good doing it.
Passing It On
Over the course of this pandemic, we've chosen to have our boys participate in their school remotely and we’ve fully embraced it. It hasn't been without challenge, but one of the unexpected benefits of remote learning is that I have had the opportunity to become Colin's art teacher. Our photography classes have largely focused on camera operation, composition and basic post processing, but I always try to include a photo walk to put the new skills to good use. This week, our photo walk was a stroll through Fairport. I'm really enjoying this experience. Maybe once we're all able to safely gather, I'll host a workshop or two.
Guess who is back?
I'm not going to lie, but I have been in a slump on here. The past 4 years have diverted my attention from maintaining this blog to what I would consider "more pressing matters" (i.e. social justice, local politics, etc.) and frankly self care. It's been a long 4 years. Still, I have been photographing a lot to share and if you follow me on Instagram, you'll have likely seen some of it.
So, here is to dusting this place off and sharing some of what I've been up to over these years and what I'll be doing going forward. Welcome back.
All of the things we can miss
So, it is 2019 and one of the things that I would like to improve upon is simply saying, ‘yes’ more frequently. Like most people, I think, I tend to stay in my lane and will rebuff opportunities that require me to take a path less traveled. Simple example…
So, it is 2019 and one of the things that I would like to improve upon is simply saying, ‘yes’ more frequently. Like most people, I think, I tend to stay in my lane and will rebuff opportunities that require me to take a path less traveled. Simple example, I am a runner who can log dozens of miles in the course of a week, but if I am asked to simply go on a walk, I tend to decline the offer. No good reason why, I just have never particularly enjoyed strolling about. The problem with this behavior is that I don’t even know what I am missing by making these choices.
This weekend, Christy asked me to walk with her and like always, my initial inclination was to decline. The weather was cold, grey and uninviting, but I grabbed my camera and decided to say yes. Within 10 minutes of walking, the sun parted and we were presented with a wonderful display of evening color. It felt validating and that I am on the right track with this year’s shift in perspective.
Oxbow - Fairport, NY | FUJI XT-3 35mm f/2
Smalltown
The world spins, faster and faster every day. For the better part of my life, I have embraced the building momentum with technology, gymnastic scheduling and an overarching desire to be part of it all. From time-to-time, however, we all need to carve out some time to recharge or gather ourselves. Generally, you will hear me drone on about forests, trees, nature and generally being outside as my chief source of recharging. What I might overlook in these sentiments is quite literally the place that we have chosen to live though.
The world spins, faster and faster every day. For the better part of my life, I have embraced the building momentum with technology, gymnastic scheduling and an overarching desire to be part of it all. From time-to-time, however, we all need to carve out some time to recharge or gather ourselves. Generally, you will hear me drone on about forests, trees, nature and generally being outside as my chief source of renewal. What I might overlook in these sentiments though, is quite literally the place that we have chosen to live.
For me, our small-town of Fairport, NY is as much a part of my attempt to slow the various distractions in my life as anything else. Sure, it is as subject to change as anything else, but the attempt that it seems to make toward retaining it’s history and remembering that life is meant to be lived and enjoyed is easy to gloss over.
Looking at it another way, Fairport - and in fact most small towns - help remind me that despite the incessant crush to keep up with the pack, we can take the time to slow down and appreciate where we are and all we have done to get here.
MEMORIAL DAY 2016 - FUJIFILM X-T1
