I have been posting to this blog for over 13 years, each year reporting on accomplishments over the prior year and goals for the new year.

2024 is no different. My main photography goal for the year is listed in the January submission of the 2024 C.London 52 Week Photography Challenge. Content this year will work towards that goal in addition to my general shooting. Check out my website "About" page to learn more. The website is at www.jeffmarcowitz.photography 

All content posted here in the blog will also be on the website, however with a subscription to the blog, you'll continue to receive the email notifications.

Thanks to all of you who have followed this photo blog for many years and welcome to any newcomers. My hope is that the images and stories are interesting and thought-provoking as I continue this creative journey. As always, comments, critiques and suggestions (here and the website) are welcome and appreciated as they often lead to new ideas and inspiration.

Thank You.
Jeff

Tuesday, March 26, 2024

Emphatic!

Emphatic!
Do you think he's made his point?  I do, but don't remember what it was!



For this shot, I pre-focused on the background and waited for an interesting hand gesture.

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f4.5 | 1/160 | 50mm equiv | ISO 320
Photographed 3/26/24

Monday, March 25, 2024

Burning

Burning
Sunset or forest fire or both?

Apple iPhone 15 Pro @ f2.8 | 1/120 | 9mm (335mm equiv) | ISO 25

Photographed 3/19/24

Sunday, March 24, 2024

Timing Is Everything

Timing Is Everything
I was shooting the daytime moon and a bird flew into the frame as the 2 second timer counted down. No way I could have planned this.

Sony A7IV @ f9 | 1/1250 | 397mm | ISO 640
Tamron E 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 A067

Photographed 3/20/24

Saturday, March 23, 2024

Climate Change

Climate Change
52Frames - Week 12 - Chaos

Angry skies, incoming rain squall, sunlit clouds, snow-capped mountains and wind...it was a chaotic weather day in Palm Desert, CA.

Sony A7IV @ f7.1 | 1/640 | 50mm | ISO 100
Sony FE 28-60mm F4-5.6

Photographed 3/18/24

Friday, March 22, 2024

The Living Desert

Three of the last four posts have been detail portraits of wildlife present at this wonderful attraction in Palm Desert, CA.  The following images are environmental portraits of other residents.


We Are Family
We Are Family
Mother & child out for a stroll.

Sony A7IV @ f6.3 | 1/500 | 282mm | ISO 250
Tamron E 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 A067


Not A Canine Pet
Not A Canine Pet
Menacing glares from this wild dog.

Sony A7IV @ f5 | 1/500 | 71mm | ISO 500
Tamron E 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 A067


Handsome
Handsome
Mr. Warthog backing into his lair as he kept us in sight.

Sony A7IV @ f6.3 | 1/500 | 273mm | ISO 500
Tamron E 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 A067

All photographed 3/15/24

Thursday, March 21, 2024

Snack Time

Snack Time
The Living Desert
Palm Desert, CA

Feeding the giraffes is a popular activity.

Sony A7IV @ f6.3 | 1/400 | 400mm | ISO 500
Tamron E 40-400mm F4.5-6.3 A067

Photographed 3/15/24

Wednesday, March 20, 2024

Choppers

Choppers
52 Assignments BW12 - Balancing Act

The Living Desert
Palm Desert, CA

One of the locals just chillin'.

Sony A7IV @ f6.3 | 1/1500 | 323mm | ISO 320
Tamron E 40-400mm F4.5-6.3 A067

Photographed 3/15/24

Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Collision

Collision
2024_CLondon52_March: Texture & Pattern - Contrasting Elements

Two different stone patterns and textures on a building at the Living Desert in Palm Desert, CA.

Sony A7IV @ f5.6 | 1/400 | 138mm | ISO 400
Tamron E 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 A067

Photographed 3/15/24

Monday, March 18, 2024

Eye See You

Eye See You
2024_CLondon52_March: Texture & Pattern - Abstract Textures

Rhino skin textures at the Living Desert in Palm Desert, CA.

Sony A7IV @ f5.6 | 1/400 | 138mm | ISO 400
Tamron E 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 A067

Photographed 3/15/24

First Quarter

First Quarter
Moon phase at 50% according to the PhotoPills app.  One handheld image...can't believe I captured it this sharp without a tripod.

Sony A7IV @ f8 | 1/1000 | 400mm | ISO 400
Tamron E 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 A067

Photographed 3/16/24

Sunday, March 17, 2024

Waxing Crescent

Waxing Crescent
Moon phase at 20% according to the PhotoPills app.  25 images aligned & stacked in LrC.

Sony A7IV @ f8 | 1/400 | 394mm | ISO 400
Tamron E 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 A067

Photographed 3/13/24

Friday, March 15, 2024

Desert Springs Road

Desert Springs Road
52Frames - Week 11 - Road
EC: 1"+

I knew a night shot with light trails would be the solution this week. This is the entrance to the JW Marriott resort in Palm Desert, CA.

Sony A7IV @ f13 | 1.3" | 58mm | ISO 100
Sony FE 28-60mm F4-5.6

Photographed 3/13/24

Home Sweet Home

Home Sweet Home
Bombay Beach, CA

A pier out on a polluted lake. A sofa. A kayak. What more do you need?

Sony A7IV @ f8 | 1/1250 | 60mm | ISO 100
Sony FE 28-60mm F4-5.6

Photographed 3/6/24

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

A Survivor

A Survivor
52 Assignments BW10 - Less Is More

Bombay Beach, CA
Sculpture...the only thing that can survive in the Salton Sea, other than perhaps a few tilapia.

Sony A7IV @ f8 | 1/1600 | 59mm (88mm equiv) | ISO 100
Sony FE 28-60mm F4-5.6

Photographed 3/6/24

Monday, March 11, 2024

Circles

Circles
2024_CLondon52_March: Texture & Pattern - Repetition

I love circular star trails around celestial north.  Repetitive shooting resulting in a repetitive pattern.



Sony A7IV @ f2.8 | 123 shots x 30" | 14mm | ISO 100
Rokinon 14mm F2.8

Photographed 3/9/24

Saturday, March 9, 2024

Hi There!

Hi There!
52Frames - Week 10 - Symmetrical Composition

One of the many sculptures in Bombay Beach, CA this fish airplane serves as a weather vane.  See below for another view.

Sony A7IV @ f11 | 1/320 | 60mm (90mm equiv) | ISO 100
Sony FE 28-60mm F4-5.6

All Photographed 3/6/24

FishPlane Weather Vane

Giddyup

Giddyup
2024_CLondon52_February: Space Exploration - Explore The Space

I criss-crossed every street in the approximately one square mile of Bombay Beach, CA.  There were creative art installations scattered amongst the general dilapidation.  This sculpture adorns a street corner and is representative of the really cool parts of the town that can be found on almost every block.

Sony A7IV @ f11 | 1/500 | 60mm | ISO 100
Sony FE 28-60mm F4-5.6

Photographed 3/6/24

Friday, March 8, 2024

Bombay Beach TVs

Bombay Beach TVs
2024_CLondon52_February: Space Exploration - Fill The Frame

Bombay Beach, CA is a former resort community along the coast of the now polluted Salton Sea. While much of the town is abandoned and in disrepair, there are about 250-300 permanent residents. This photo is a zoomed in example of one art installation found throughout the town.

Sony A7IV @ f11 | 1/500 | 60mm | ISO 100
Sony FE 28-60mm F4-5.6

Photographed 3/6/24

Ever Expanding

Ever Expanding
2024_CLondon52_February: Space Exploration - Scale

Bombay Beach is a former resort community along the coast of the now polluted Salton Sea.  As the sea dries up, the beach expands.  On it, a nascent artist community creates all kinds of funky structures and sculptures scattered across the land.



Sony A7IV @ f5.6 | 1/2500 | 28mm | ISO 100
Sony FE 28-60mm F4-5.6

Photographed 3/6/24

Thursday, March 7, 2024

Etiquette

2024_CLondon52_February: Space Exploration - Depth

Golf etiquette demonstrated by these guys waiting until the fairway clears.  Depth demonstrated through focus on the foreground, mid ground and background.

Etiquette - Foreground
Etiquette - Foreground
Sony A7IV @ f5.6 | 1/2000 | 60mm  | ISO 100
Sony FE 28-60mm F4-5.6


Etiquette - Mid Ground
Etiquette - Mid Ground
Sony A7IV @ f5.6 | 1/2000 | 60mm  | ISO 100
Sony FE 28-60mm F4-5.6


Etiquette - Background
Etiquette - Background
Sony A7IV @ f5.6 | 1/2500 | 60mm  | ISO 100
Sony FE 28-60mm F4-5.6

All photographed 3/3/24

Tuesday, March 5, 2024

Stogie and a Sun Star

Stogie and a Sun Star
52 Assignments BW02 - Fast Track

A study in panning with background motion blur.  This is a crop of a wider shot but I loved the stogie and sun star.

Sony A7IV @ f22 | 1/40 | 35mm | ISO 100
Sony FE 28-60mm F4-5.6

Photographed 3/2/24

Saturday, March 2, 2024

Drag Race

Drag Race
52Frames - Week 9 - Move The Camera
EC: Panning

Perched alongside a busy boulevard, I waited for the competition.

Sony A7IV @ f22 | 1/50 | 60mm | ISO 100
Sony FE 28-60mm F4-5.6

Photographed 3/2/24

Friday, March 1, 2024

Pops

Pops
52Frames - Week 8 - Complementary Colors

University of Illinois - orange & blue
Chicago Bears - orange & blue
Hanukah present from the grandkids - orange & blue

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f9 | 1/100 | 40mm equiv | ISO 12800

Photographed 2/21/24

Thursday, February 29, 2024

Baristas Extraordinaire

Baristas Extraordinaire
Another recent photo with my 40+ year old manual focus film camera at a favorite local coffee shop.



Minolta X-700 w/ Fujifilm Superia 200 | 28mm | ISO 200
Minolta Celtic 28mm F2.8

Photographed 2/17/24

Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Filmstrip

Hansa Coffee
This local coffee shop has rolling garage doors that open in the warm weather.  During winter, the glazing is reminiscent of a movie reel or filmstrip.  Appropo because this was taken with my 40+ year old manual focus film camera.

Minolta X-700 w/ Fujifilm 200 | 28mm | ISO 200
Minolta Celtic 28mm F2.8

Photographed 2/17/24

Friday, February 23, 2024

Decay

Decay
Downed tree in Ryerson Woods.

Sony A7IV @ f6.3 | 1/250 | 110mm | ISO 500
Tamron E 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 A067

Photographed 2/16/24

Thursday, February 22, 2024

Waxing Gibbous

Waxing Gibbous
Moon phase at 98.1% according to the PhotoPills app.  Was hoping to catch a full moon tomorrow night but overcast skies are predicted.  25 images stacked and blended.

Sony A7IV @ f11 | 1/640 | 400mm | ISO 400
Tamron E 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 A067

Photographed 2/22/24

Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Emphasis

Emphasis
52 Assignments BW01 - Moment In The Sun

My buddy Irwin is always a willing subject and for that, I'm grateful.  I don't recall what we were discussing, but he certainly felt strongly about it.

Sony A7IV @ f2 | 1/1000 | 85mm | ISO 100
Rokinon AF 85mm F1.4

Photographed 2/13/24

Saturday, February 17, 2024

Damn, I Dropped It!!

Damn, I Dropped It!!
52Frames - Week 7 - Unexplored

I interpreted this prompt to explore a place I've never been rather than create an image that conveys not being explored.  To that end, I visited a forest preserve literally 2 miles from my home that I've driven & cycled by hundreds of times yet never previously entered.

Furthermore, in preparation for my Africa trip later this year, I wanted to further explore use of the 50-400mm lens.

For true "birders", I know this image is cheating due to the feeder, but it provided a good opportunity to play with settings and burst mode.  A couple of things I learned: 400mm is not long enough for birds (but I'm not buying another long lens) and 1/1000 sec is not fast enough for handheld (will try monopod + faster SS next time).

Sony A7IV @ f6.3 | 1/1000 | 400mm | ISO 2500
Tamron E 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 A067

Photographed 2/16/24

Sunday, February 11, 2024

Down For The Count

Down For The Count
52Frames - Week 6 - Shoot From Above

I had high hopes for this week's challenge, including the possibility of breaking out the drone.  However, Type A flu caught me big time and the spiking high fevers kept me confined to the condo the entire week.

I toyed with the idea of flying the drone above my bed but opted instead for this streak-saver shot in one of the few moments of awakedness.

Apple iPhone 15 Pro @ f1.9 | 1/15 | 2.69mm (23mm equiv) | ISO 2000

Photographed 2/8/24

Wednesday, February 7, 2024

WaveRunner

WaveRunner
52 Assignments BW26 - Wordplay

I was hoping the other guy in the frame would wave to complete the sign representation, but the jetski in the foreground will have to suffice.

Apple iPhone 15 Pro @ f1.8 | 1/12000 | 6.86mm (24mm equiv) | ISO 80

Photographed 1/28/24

Tuesday, February 6, 2024

Life's A Beach

Photos for 52 Assignments BW46 - Life's A Beach, taken on the beach in Cancun, MX.

Emerge
Emerge
Looking out at the rough sea, I saw this couple, framed by the umbrellas, emerge from the waves.  I like the compression effect of the long lens.

Sony A7IV @ f6.3 | 1/1600 | 174mm | ISO 100
Tamron E 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 A067
Photographed 1/25/24


Jail
Jail
I was peering out to the ocean catching beachgoer scenes through the rail when the Tourista Policia drove by,  hence the title.  If this is jail, count me in.


Apple iPhone 15 Pro @ f2.8 | 1/1400 | 9mm (107mm equiv) | ISO 25
Photographed 1/28/24


Launch
Launch
I was watching this pelican preening itself for at least 15 minutes and was fortunate to catch it finally launching into flight.

Sony A7IV @ f9 | 1/2000 | 70mm | ISO 100
Sony FE 20-70mm F4 G
Photographed 1/31/24

Friday, February 2, 2024

Before the Dive

Before the Dive
52Frames - Week 5 - Shoot From Below (Alternate)

This was the runner-up shot to my submission. Which do you like better and why?

Sony A7IV @ f9 | 1/1600 | 70mm | ISO 100
Sony FE 20-70mm F4 G

Photographed 1/31/24

Thursday, February 1, 2024

Dive!

Dive!
52Frames - Week 5 - Shoot From Below

This was a tough choice to make.  Since the prompt did not say how far below the subject one had to be, I chose this one because 1) I was below the pelican and the camera was angled up, and 2) it captured action and interplay between the people and pelican.

I'll separately post the runner-up photo on my blog and website (www.jeffmarcowitz.photography).

Sony A7IV @ f9 | 1/1250 | 70mm | ISO 100
Sony FE 20-70mm F4 G

Photographed 1/31/24

Saturday, January 27, 2024

Iggy

Iggy
2024_CLondon52_January: Setting Goals - Main Photographic Goal for the Year

With a South African trip planned for later this year, my main goal is to learn the basics of wildlife photography to maximize the potential for great safari photos.  I shot this photo for practice with the new 50-400mm lens, handheld.

Sony A7IV @ f6.3 | 1/250 | 300mm | ISO 160
Tamron E 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 A067

Photographed 1/25/24

Friday, January 26, 2024

Follow The Flags

Follow The Flags
52Frames - Week 4 - Scene From A Movie
EC: Use A LUT

Strong winds created a mist blowing across the beach and an afternoon sun provided a backlight. This scene immediately struck me as movie material.

Sony A7IV @ f6.3 | 1/2000 | 300mm | ISO 100
Tamron E 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 A067

Photographed 1/25/24

Thursday, January 25, 2024

Almost Full

Almost Full
2024_CLondon52_January: Setting Goals - Re-creation of an Old Photo

Moon phase at 97.5% according to the PhotoPills app.  Second moon photo effort with the new 400mm zoom lens.  25 images stacked and blended.

Sony A7IV @ f11 | 1/800 | 400mm | ISO 1600
Tamron E 50-400mm F4.5-6.3 A067

Photographed 1/23/24

Thursday, January 18, 2024

Finally Sunshine

Finally Sunshine
52Frames - Week 3 - Black and White (Alternate)

After a week of snowy, frigid and overcast weather, the sun finally came out in earnest today. I was struck by the varying pockets of light and shadow created by the morning sun on the open architecture.



Apple iPhone 15 Pro @ f1.8 | 1/750 | 6.86mm (24mm equiv) | ISO 80

Photographed 1/17/24

Wednesday, January 17, 2024

Discourse

Discourse
52Frames - Week 3 - Black and White
2024_CLondon52_January: Setting Goals - Past Experiences with Photography

Representative of the genre I like to photograph the most...everyday slices of life.

Another 2Fer where I'm able to use the same photograph for two challenges.

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f4 | 1/160 | 40mm equiv | ISO 160

Photographed 1/17/24

Thursday, January 11, 2024

Lego

Lego
52Frames - Week 2 - New Technique (Alternate)

Went to take some photos to use for Adamski effect at a local shopping mall since today's weather was miserable.  This photo was a very close second to the one I submitted.

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f4 | 1/160 | 71mm equiv | ISO 400

Photographed 1/9/24

Tuesday, January 9, 2024

Road Conditions

Road Conditions
52Frames - Week 2 - New Technique

Went to take some photos to use for Adamski effect at a local shopping mall since today's weather was miserable.  This photo was taken on the way home in the rain/snow because I wasn't certain there were any good ones from inside the mall.

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f4 | 1/200 | 40mm equiv | ISO100

Photographed 1/9/24

Tuesday, January 2, 2024

In Disguise

In Disguise
Portillo's
Vernon Hills, IL

It may look like a fast casual restaurant, but it is actually a money machine in disguise.

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f2.8 | 1/200 | 40mm equiv | ISO 200

Photographed 1/1/24

Monday, January 1, 2024

Good Intentions

Good Intentions
52Frames - Week 1 - Self-Portrait
2024_CLondon52_January: Setting Goals - Introduction

Photographing with intent has been a topic of discussion lately in photo groups within which I participate.  I wanted to do something different than the last 4 years of Week 1.  My original intent was to combine my penchant for reflections with a cool technique exhibited by Tzvi Cohen in his 2023 Week 1 submission.  After 2 hours of Photoshop layer and layer mask failure, I gave up and decided to use the reflection portion only.

This image is also intended to say some things about me.  More introvert than extrovert.  Can operate in the background but not afraid to be seen.  Simplifies complexity.

Here we go...on to Year 5.

Sony A7IV @ f5.6 | 1/30 | 200mm | ISO 12800
Tamron E 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 A071

Photographed 1/1/24