Not Quite But A Happy Accident

Century Park

Vernon Hills, IL

Last minute effort to shoot the Northern Lights with photo buddy, Steve P.  Not quite successful but also not a wasted effort.  The previous night would have been spectacular.

On the second photo, Steve was fooling around with his flashlight while we were trying to capture the Northern Lights.  The bright colors against the night sky caught my attention.



Photographed with a Sony A7IV camera and Rokinon 14mm F2.8 Series II lens.

All Photographed 11/12/25

Not Quite

Happy Accident

Old Abe

52Frames - Week 46 - Black and White Minimalism

52 Assignments Exposure 37 - It's A Small World

It was reported this past week that Old Abe is being retired...no more minting of the US penny. But not to worry; the US Treasury estimates that ~114 billion are in active circulation.

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

Sony A7IV @ f3.5 | 1/100 | 50mm | ISO 5000

Sony FE 50mm F2.8 Macro

Photographed 11/14/25

Desert Shores

Desert Shores, CA

Population:  ~1,100

Once a thriving resort town along the western coast of the Salton Sea, its heyday being in the 1950-1960s, Desert Shores has deteriorated over the decades largely due to the residual effects of Salton Sea contamination.

Currently, there are several restoration projects underway and planned by local and state agencies, including water restoration to the marina.



I spent an afternoon capturing photographs of the town and had some good encounters with locals as well.



B/W photos were captured on Kodak Tri-X 400 film with a Voigtlander Bessa R4M camera and a Voigtlander 40mm F1.4 Nokton Classic
lens.  Color photos were captured digitally on a Sony A7Cii camera and a Voigtlander Color-Skopar 21mm F4 MC lens. 

All Photographed 11/9/25

Desert Shores

Once A Marina

Hope For The Future

Call For Help?

Palm & LaJolla

Sea & Sun

Art Revival

Lucia

Mi Amigos

Mountain Mike

Mountain Mike Custom Leather

Idyllwild, CA

If you're ever in need of a customized leather item, this is the place.  I wandered into this shop to inquire about a custom leather camera strap for my film cameras.  Mike presented a couple of options but unfortunately, did not have anything ready-made.  Next year, with some advance planning, I may have some new straps.

Check him out at: mountainmikecustomleather.com

Voigtlander Bessa R4M | 40mm | ISO 100 | Kentmere 100

Voigtlander 40mm F1.4 Nokton Classic

Photographed 11/1/25

Fog?

Palm Desert, CA

In the two weeks I was in Palm Desert, this is the only moisture I encountered in the air.



Sony A7Cii @ f?? | 1/125 | 40mm | ISO 125

Voigtlander Nokton Classic 40mm F1.4 (adapted)

Photographed 11/5/25

Limited Supply

52 Frames - Week 45 - Show Us Your Toys

EC: Flat Lay

On vacation this week so my only option for this challenge is the photography gear I brought on this two week trip. One film camera, one digital camera, three M-mount manual lenses (21, 40, 90mm), two rolls of film and some miscellaneous accessories make up the kit.

Apple iPhone 15 Pro @ f1.8 | 1/60 | 6.76mm (24mm equiv) | ISO 400

Photographed 11/7/25

Unlimited Flavor Band

Idyllwild, CA

I encountered this Blues/R&B/Jazz band in the small mountain town of Idyllwild, CA.  Set-up in the corner of an Italian restaurant patio, they put out some wonderful tunes.  These photos are from digital capture; the film photos will be processed once I return home.

Sony A7Cii @ f?? | 1/125 | 40mm | ISO 100-500

Voigtlander Nokton Classic 40mm F1.4 (adapted)

All Photographed 11/1/25

The Band

Sugar Bear (Band Leader)

David

David

Ronnie B' Good

Expired Film Test

On 10/25/25, I took a drive up to Illinois Beach State Park in Zion, IL in order to shoot some landscape photos using a fairly new to me Leica CL film camera and Leica 50mm F2 Summicron lens.  I was fairly confident using these two pieces of gear.  What I was not confident about was how the 25-30 year old expired color film would perform.  I did convert some to black & white as it was more conducive to the subject matter.

In the end, I was reasonably pleased; but you be the judge.

 

Forty-Seven

52 Frames - Week 44 - Your Worst Nightmare

Figuring out my worst nightmare wasn't a problem. Figur ing out how to represent it in a photo was a conundrum...until this morning when I received this email.  A photo of the email solved the problem and is especially relevant because I'm one of the subjects.

Sony A7Cii @ f1.4 | 1/125 | 40mm | ISO 250

Voigtlander Nokton Classic 40mm F1.4 (adapted)

Photographed 10/29/25

No Kings - Chicago

On 10/18/25, over 200,000 people attended the downtown Chicago "No Kings" rally and march.  It was a surprisingly peaceful protest, and at the same time, a palpable anger could be felt.  Many thanks are due the organizers for the superb job in orchestrating this massive event.

With digital and film cameras in hand, here are a few photos from the day.  Thanks to my friend Steve P. who offered an objective selection of the 180+ photos taken.

 

Approach

52 Frames - Week 43 - Centered Composition

Out shooting motion blur for another photo challenge, I thought a head-on shot might work for this week's 52Frames.  With a small tripod, self-timer and an ND filter, I was able to capture this self-portrait scene.  I used a different shot for the other challenge, but this outing was a "2-Fer".

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f13 | .8 sec | 40mm equiv | ISO 100 | ND Filter

Photographed 10/22/25

Ghost Walk

52 Assignments Exposure 35 - Blurred Vision

Trying to capture motion blur in the leaves wasn't working, so I changed gears and combined a small tripod, self-timer and ND filter to get a long exposure, thereby facilitating this self-portrait.

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f13 | .8 sec | 40mm equiv | ISO 100 | ND Filter

Photographed 10/22/25

18th Hole

52 Frames - Week 42 - Shadows

I had hoped to get some good shadow shots at the "No Kings" march on 10/18 in Chicago.  With a poor weather prediction for that day however, I seized this opportunity on 10/16 as a backup.  With bright sun and long shadows on a late afternoon finish, it works for the challenge to keep the streak alive.

For those wondering, I took a double bogey on this par 5 hole and ended up with a 99.

Apple iPhone 15 Pro @ f1.8 | 1/1000 | 6.76mm (24mm equiv) | ISO 80

Photographed 10/16/25

Paint Job

Main Street

Minturn, CO

Getting some pretty inconsistent results from my old Minolta film camera. Trying to figure out if it's the photographer, the camera and/or the lens 🤷‍♂️🤣.

Minolta X-700 | 28mm | Lomochrome Color '92 | ISO 400

MD Minolta Celtic 28mm F2.8

Photographed 10/10/25

New Time Increment

52 Frames - Week 41 - Time

Originally, I had another idea for this challenge.  However, when I saw the empty toilet paper rolls in a U.S. Forest Service facility, I figured out a new increment for measuring time.  6 empty rolls <= 9 days of government shutdown.  Clearly a stretch for the challenge but another IRL photo happenstance.

Apple iPhone 15 Pro @ f2.2 1/100 2.2mm (21mm equiv) ISO 100

Photographed 10/9/25

Prelude To the Crash

Bakers Tank Trail

White River National Forest

Breckenridge, CO

Photographed at 201 feet above ground level (10,180 feet above sea level).  The descent went perfect until about 10 feet above ground level when a tree branch got in the way.  Fortunately, the drone survived the tumble.

DJI Mavic Mini @ F2.8 | 1/320 | 4.49mm (24mm equiv) | ISO 100

Photographed 10/9/25

Long Time; No Fly

I had not flown my drone for quite awhile.  Decided to bring it along on a Colorado trip to get reacquainted.  Lots of areas where flying is not permitted, but fortunately, many areas where it is, including non-wilderness areas in the National Forests.   Thus far, location hasn't been an issue; rather wind gust velocity has.

These photographs from the drone were captured over two days within windows of permissible conditions.

 

Pilots

84' above ground level

Autumn Changes

150' above ground level

Flight Path

27' above ground level

Needles

52 Frames - Week 40 - Texture

EC: Sidelight

Saw the light hitting the pine needles out my window, so grabbed the camera & went outside to capture the texture and sidelight.  Another IRL happenstance.

Sony A7Cii @ f5.6 | 1/125 | 185mm | ISO 100

Tamron E 28-200mm F2.8-5.6 A071

Photographed 10/1/25

Bronzeville

On 9/27/25, Beers & Cameras_Chicago and local photographer Malik Zambezi (@malikshotyou) organized a fabulous photowalk through the Bronzeville neighborhood of Chicago.  It was well attended by both B&C_Chi members and local community photographers, models and content creators.

The photograph of the model, Zy, below is my favorite of the day.  Taking a poll of my viewers - color or B/W?  Please let me know your preference.

 

The Walk

Message Of The Day

Golden

Zy

Zy

Sitting On The Dock

52 Frames - Week 39 - Soundtrack

Waukegan Harbor

Waukegan, IL

One intention with this week's challenge was to shoot it with film and process at home in time to meet the deadline.

Out shooting with a recently acquired film camera and a new (to me) lens, this scene immediately brought to mind the infamous Otis Redding song.

Leica CL @ 50mm | Kodak Tri-X 400 | ISO 400

Leitz Wetzlar 50mm F2 Summicron

Photographed 9/24/25