Perfect Advice

52Frames - Week 25 - Just Breathe

On vacation with the kids and grandkids, we approached Tower Hill, a 260' sand dune at Warren Dunes in Sawyer, Michigan. The sand was soft so every step only yielded about 25% progress of the distance and height of the actual step.  My 7 year old grandson was way out ahead and beat the three of us up the hill.  As I approached the summit (in last place) and stopped to catch my breath, my grandson yells down, "Just Breathe, Pops!"  Hence, this title!

Apple iPhone 15 Pro @ f1.8 | 1/12000 | 6.76mm (42mm equiv) | ISO 80

Photographed 6/15/26

Crash & Splash

52Frames - Week 22 - On The Ground

Vila Vita Parc

Porches (Algarve), Portugal

At the ocean, I had some trepidation about getting this shot with the water rushing in towards my non-weatherproofed camera and lens.

Leica M EV1 @ F5.6 | 40mm | 1/250 sec | ISO 64

Voigtlander VM 40mm F1.4 Nokton Classic

Photographed 5/25/26

Winnetka Growler

52 Frames - Week 7 - Unexplored

There are several public beaches along Lake Michigan in Chicago's northern suburbs. Lloyds Beach is one I have not previously explored.

With temperatures moderating a bit, ice is beginning to break apart from the frozen lake edges.

Sony A7Cii @ f2.8 | 1/1000 | 40mm | ISO 125

Voigtlander 40mm F1.4 Nokton Classic (adapted)

Photographed 2/13/26

"Good Morning, Chair". "Good Morning, Tree".

52 Frames - Week 5 - Chair

EC: Tell A Story

Cancun, MX

I photographed this scene a couple of times last week, so when this week's prompt opened up, I shot it again with foreground emphasis on the chair.  Claiming the EC as I imagined these two inanimate objects greeting each other as the sun rose.

Apple iPhone 15 Pro @ f1.8 | 1/20000 | 6.76mm (28mm equiv) | ISO 64

Photographed 1/26/26

Nutcracker

52 Assignments Exposure 40 - Hard Day's Light

Shadow play on the pier at Waukegan, IL beach.

Sony A7Cii @ f8 | 1/640 | 50mm | ISO 125

Leitz Wetzlar 50mm F2 Summicron (adapted)

Photographed 1/7/26

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

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.

 

Black & White In Cancun

When recently in Cancun, Mexico, I took my Nikon 35Ti camera loaded with some Ilford HP5+ black & white film.  Below is a collection of photos shot in late January & early February 2025.  Developed the film with my friend Steve and scanned the negatives at home.

Beach Day

Windy Day

Sunrise

Reserving pool chairs early in the morning.


Punch Pattern

Dusk Along The Lagoon

Chefs Extraordinaire

Cenacolo, one of our favorite restaurants in Cancun.

Three Shades of Blue

52Frames - Week 5 - Blue

EC:  Contrasting Color (the beach)

Hard to miss the strong presence of the blues in the sky, ocean and pool.

Sony A7IV @ f8 | 1/640 | 60mm | ISO 100

Sony FE 20-70mm F4 G

Photographed 1/27/25

Barely Breaking Through

Cancun, MX

Not the most desirable weather so it was nice to see the sun actually breaking through.

Apple iPhone 15 Pro @ f2.8 1/400 9mm (94mm equiv) ISO 25

Photographed 1/22/25

Seaside Solitude 2

52 Assignments Exposure 15 - Monochrome Magic



Cancun, Mexico

Title says it all.  I also wanted to use this image for 52Frames - Week 51 - BW Minimalism, however I photographed it a week too early.

Sony A7Cii @ f4.5 | 1/400 | 105mm | ISO 200

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

Photographed 12/13/24

Seaside Solitude

Cancun, Mexico

Captured in the morning before the crowds descend.

Sony A7Cii @ f5.6 | 1/1600 | 200mm | ISO 200

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

Photographed 12/13/24

Age and Innocence

52Frames - Week 35 - Rule of Thirds

Went to a local park with a pond and small beach hoping there would be some activity on this Labor Day weekend.  Got several shots, some even with the EC, but this was my favorite.

Sony A7IV @ f8 | 1/250 | 181mm | ISO 160

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

Photographed 8/31/24

The Builder

Warren Dunes

Sawyer, Michigan

You think this guy is enjoying his vacation?

Olympus TG-4 @ f8 | 1/200 | 4.5mm (25mm equiv) | ISO 100

Photographed 6/19/24

Hidden Sunrise

A few photos from a sunrise photo walk at Waukegan Harbor & Marina and the Waukegan Municipal Beach in Waukegan, IL on 6/2/24.  Weather predicted was intermittent clouds at 5:17am sunrise; what we experienced was complete cloud cover until after 8am.  Nonetheless, it was a successful morning of photography.  

Blue Hour Boats

Sony A7IV @ f8 | 1/4 | 28mm | ISO 100

Sony FE 20-70mm F4 G

Golden Hour Boats

Sony A7IV @ f11 | 1/20 | 28mm | ISO 200

Sony FE 20-70mm F4 G

Mast Chaos

Sony A7IV @ f8 | 1/30 | 135mm | ISO 100

Canon 135mm F3.5 (adapted)

Solitude

Sony A7IV @ f11 | 1/1250 | 70mm | ISO 250

Sony FE 20-70mm F4 G

Morning Calm

Sony A7IV @ f11 | 1/1250 | 105mm (equiv) | ISO 160

Sony FE 20-70mm F4 G

All photographed 6/2/24

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

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

Life's A Beach

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

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

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

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

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

Lindys

52Frames - Week 36 - Triangular Composition (alternate)

Bang's Lake

Wauconda, IL

Sony A7 IV @ f11 1/125 14mm ISO 400

Rokinon 14mm F2.8 Series II

Photographed 09/7/23