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

Friday, March 31, 2023

No Thanks; I'll Fly

No Thanks; I'll Fly
52Frames - Week 13 - Get Low

Union Station
Chicago, IL

Sony A7 IV @ f4.5 1/125 70mm ISO 1250
Sony FE 20-70mm F4 G

Photographed 3/28/23

Thursday, March 30, 2023

Take the Stairs!

Take the Stairs!
52Frames - Week 13 - Get Low (Alternate)
EC: 4+ Leading Lines

Union Station
Chicago, IL

Sony A7 IV @ f4 1/125 20mm ISO 640
Sony FE 20-70mm F4 G

Photographed 3/28/23

Monday, March 27, 2023

Journey

Journey
52 Assignments BW - #23 - Work The Angles
Evanston, IL

Sony A7IV @ f8 1/80 20mm ISO 12800
Sony FE 20-70mm F4 G

Photographed 3/22/23

Saturday, March 25, 2023

Where Is Everyone?

Where Is Everyone?
Don't recall ever seeing a Starbucks this empty on a weekday afternoon.

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f8 1/250 40mm equiv ISO 200

Photographed 3/23/23

Friday, March 24, 2023

Sushi Girl

SushiGirl
Kilauea, Kauai, HI
Prepping for the next day.

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f2.8 1/160 40mm equiv ISO 640

Photographed 3/6/23

Thursday, March 23, 2023

Sweet Sounds

Sweet Sounds
52Frames - Week 12 - Music

Although not a performance venue, Bill Hoffmann graced me with some sweet sounds from a violin at his music shop of 25+ years. I’ve passed this shop hundreds of times over the years and never knew it existed. 

Hoffmann Strings Ltd.
Dealer, Restorer & Maker of Violins, Violas, Cellos & Basses 
https://hoffmannstringsltd.com/

Sony A7 IV @ f4 1/125 67mm ISO 3200
Sony FE 20-70mm F4 G

Photographed 3/23/23

Wednesday, March 22, 2023

2023_CLondon52_March: Community

From the C.London website: "A big part of this challenge is the community we’re building together. This month we’re focusing on that in attempts to really strengthen it. Some of us are still strangers, so let’s take the time to change that. We’ll have weekly voice chats on the discord and various times that hopefully are suitable for most, and I’m going to ask you to reach out to other members of the community for help with this month’s prompts."


"1.  Feedback to and from a peer.  Giving and receiving feedback is a valuable skill for any creative. For this challenge, we’re asking that you engage with another participant of the challenge to both ask for and give feedback. The photo you create should be made with feedback you received in mind. When giving feedback, remember to make it constructive and with actionable things which can be done. The way you see an image is different than how your partner saw it while making it, so your eye and thoughts are valuable."

I received feedback from my friend @photofinishsid as follows:

1. This is my kind of photo. I love it.
2. I like the crop ratio that you have chosen. Most people would have chosen to include much more of the railroad cars. I like that you have decided to include just the couplers.
3. I like the rust, teal and orange colors in the photo.
4. I wonder if you could have blurred the background at all?
5. I also would have liked to see you differentiate the coupler from the track with a filter of some kind. Not sure if that would have been possible or not.  Great photo.

In response to Sid's comments, I made adjustments to the background (#4) and the pipe beneath the coupler (#5).  When making this image, I also was cognizant of the complementary colors of orange/blue on the train cars and red/green on the coupler & background.
Hitched
Hitched
Sony A7 IV @ f2.8 1/125 28mm  ISO 100
Tamron E 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 A071
Photographed 3/7/23


"2.  Re-creation of a peer’s photo.  Choose a photo from a peer that you find interesting and inspiring and use that as a launching off point for your photo for this week. It doesn’t necessarily have to be an exact replica, but more inspired by. You can look at other participants’ submissions on the discord, reddit, flickr, and facebook. It’s encouraged to reach out to the original creator to show them what you’ve made."

Prime oceanfront property abandoned along the Boardwalk in Kapa'a, Kauai, HI.
Abandoned
Abandoned
Sony A7 IV @ f8 1/200  20mm  ISO 100
Tamron E 20mm F2.8 F050
Photographed 3/4/23


"3.  Your community outside photography.  We’re spending this month really solidifying the community within the challenge, and one way to do that is to bring what you value in a community to the group. For this prompt, focus on another community you are a part of - what makes it valuable to you? What do you give it and what do you take from it? Share that through your photography with this community."

12 Step Community.  You get out what you put in...and more.
From Darkness to Light
From Darkness to Light
Sony A7 IV @ f8 1/125  31mm  ISO 100
Sony FE 20-70mm F4 G
Photographed 3/22/23


"4.  Your neighborhood.  Step outside your home and walk no more than a half mile (800m to the non-imperial unit users) documenting your surroundings. These are things you see every day, so I’m asking you to look at the familiar with new eyes. Put yourself in the shoes of someone from a completely different background. What may the find interesting? Don’t be afraid to over shoot during this exercise. The culling will be part of the exorcise. We’re looking for one final image that you feel best represents your neighborhood."

A difficult task representing my neighborhood in a single photo.  Within 800m is residential, offices, retail, restaurants and a county forest preserve.  Pretty great!
Welcome to the Neighborhood
Welcome to the Neighborhood
Sony A7 IV @ f8 1/160  20mm  ISO 100
Sony FE 20-70mm F4 G
Photographed 3/22/23

Monday, March 20, 2023

Lei

Lei
52 Assignments BW - #34 - A Pattern Developing

Lihue, Kauai, HI

Handed out to all male attendees of the luau at Gaylord Plantation. Turns out they're poor quality that crumbles if you put any pressure on them. At least they lasted the evening.

Sony A7IV @ f5.6 1/250 28mm ISO 100
Tamron E 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 A071

Photographed 3/7/23

Saturday, March 18, 2023

Stripes

Stripes
52Frames - Week 11 - High Noon

Dark shadows on a light background or bright light on a dark background?  You be the judge.

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f8 1/400 40mm equiv ISO 100

Photographed 3/14/23

Thursday, March 16, 2023

Intense

Intense
Kapa'a, Kauai, HI

Seems like a serious conversation going on.

Sony A7 IV @ f2.8 1/125 20mm ISO 5000
Tamron E 20mm F2.8 F050

Photographed 3/4/23

Sunday, March 12, 2023

Applause

Applause
Makai Music & Art Festival
Princeville, Kauai, HI

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f2.8 1/2500 40mm (equiv) ISO 100

Photographed 3/1/23

Saturday, March 11, 2023

The Village Kauai

The Village Kauai
Princeville Art & Flea Market
Princeville, Kauai, HI

Foster (the guy inside) operates this cool food truck with his wife. Gotta love it!

Sony A7 IV @ f8 1/200 20mm ISO 100
Tamron E 20mm F2.8 F050

Photographed 3/5/23

Friday, March 10, 2023

Shell Seeker

Shell Seeker
52Frames - Week 10 - Complementary Colors

Anini State Beach
Princeville, Kauai, HI

Sony A7 IV @ f7.1 1/400 43mm ISO 100
Tamron E 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 A071

Photographed 3/6/23

Wednesday, March 8, 2023

Turbulence

Turbulence
52 Assignments BW - #27 - Go With The Flow

Princeville, Kauai, HI

Sony A7 IV @ f32 1/5 185mm (277mm equiv) ISO 100
Tamron E 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 A071 - crop mode

Photographed 3/5/23

Monday, March 6, 2023

Drama

Drama
Kapa'a Art Walk & Street Fair

Last peeks of the day's sunlight.

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f4.5 1/2500 40mm (equiv) ISO 100

Photographed 3/4/23

Sunday, March 5, 2023

Kapa'a Art Walk & Street Fair

Went to Kapa'a Art Walk and Street Fair held on the first Saturday of every month. Music, artists, vendors and food trucks.

Nose Flute
Nose Flute
Never had seen this instrument before.

Sony A7 IV @ f5.6 1/125 20mm  ISO 100
Tamron E 20mm F2.8 F050


New Concoction
New Concoction
She was very proud of the new concoction she created.

Sony A7 IV @ f5.6 1/125 20mm  ISO 250
Tamron E 20mm F2.8 F050


Hands of Experience
Hands of Experience
Resizing to make a sale.

Sony A7 IV @ f5.6 1/125 20mm  ISO 200
Tamron E 20mm F2.8 F050

All Photographed 3/4/23

Saturday, March 4, 2023

Forks In The Bumpy Road

Forks In The Bumpy Road
52Frames - Week 9 - Macro

Traveling and without my macro lens and a tripod. Had to make due with macro mode on the GRIIIx, handheld.

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f3.5 1/160 40mm equiv ISO 100

Photographed 3/3/23

Friday, March 3, 2023

Filmstrip

Filmstrip
Looks like a strip of 35mm film when processed in b/w.

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f3.5 1/160 40mm equiv ISO 5000

Photographed 3/2/23

Thursday, March 2, 2023

Checking Out A Twin

Checking Out A Twin
Reflections

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f2.8 1/400 40mm equiv ISO 200

Photographed 3/1/23