Macro Reflected

52Frames - Week 36 - Reflection

EC: Use A Mirror

Breaking from the norm, I did not go with an IRL shot this week.  Rather, I used macro mode on the D-Lux 8, a small mirror & two flashlights on my desk.  Had thought about using my scanning stand to hold the camera but decided that handheld would provide for a more interesting photo.

Leica D-Lux 8 @ f2.3 | 41mm (equiv) | 1/8 | ISO 100

Leica DC Vario-Summilux F1.7-2.8 24-75mm (equiv) ASPH

Photographed 9/2/26

Downtown Film

Chicago, IL

I had not shot BW film for awhile, nor the Minolta X-700.  Figured a trip to the Leica store would be a good opportunity to do so.  This is a small collection of photos from the day.

Minolta X-700 | 28mm | Ilford HP5+ | ISO 400

MD Minolta Celtic 28mm  F2.8

All Photographed 8/15/26

Downtown Film

Kenn Cook Jr.

Painted Camera

Top Of The Tower

Where Are All The People?

Future Photographer

Chicago, IL

Lincoln Park Zoo

Our grandson spending a day at Camp MimiPops.

Nikon 35Ti @ f? | 35mm | Fujifilm 200 | ISO 125

Nikkor 35mm F2.8

All Photographed 6/9/26

"As Smooth As Butter"

A quote from my friend Steve as he listens to the shutter on his 1960's era Leica M2.

Sony A7Cii @ f2 | 1/125 | 50mm | ISO 6400

Leitz Wetzlar 50mm F2 Summicron (adapted)

Photographed 2/20/26

Favorite Combo

52 Frames - Week 1 - Self-Portrait

Here we go...on to Year 7.  I intend to do the entire challenge in B/W...unless the prompt itself specifically requires color. l also intend to submit as many "slice of life" photos for the challenge as possible vs. staging the scene (like this photo).

2025 was a re-entrée into film photography.  Here I'm contemplating 2026 with my favorite film combination - Leica CL w/ Voigtländer 40mm F1.4 Nokton Classic.

Sony A7IV @ f2.8 | 1/250 | 50mm | ISO 6400

Sony FE 50mm F2.8 Macro

Photographed 1/1/26

San Francisco Photowalk

A few photos from a San Francisco photowalk on 6/12/24.  After "commuting" there for many years, I hadn't been back since pre-Covid.  It is just as photogenic as ever.

Fruits & Veggies

Sony A7IV @ f8 | 1/320 | 28mm | ISO 800

Voigtlander VM 28mm F2 Ultron (adapted)

GQ

Sony A7IV @ f8 | 1/320 |  28mm | ISO 320

Voigtlander VM 28mm F2 Ultron (adapted)

Camera Obscura

Sony A7IV @ f8 | 1/640 | 30mm | ISO 100

Sony FE 20-70mm F4 G

Sutro Selfie Taker

Sony A7IV @ f9 | 1/1250 | 70mm | ISO 100

Sony FE 20-70mm F4 G

Fresh Air

Sony A7IV @ f8 | 1/200 | 70mm | ISO 100

Sony FE 20-70mm F4 G

All photographed 6/12/24

Over The River

52 Assignments BW13 - Reinvent Your Selfie

Reflection shot from a bridge over the Des Plaines River. The spots in the photo are not from my sensor; rather debris floating on the water surface, as is the leaf.

Sony A7 IV @ f5.6 1/125 60mm ISO 800

Sony FE 28-60mm F4-5.6

Photographed 11/15/23

52 Assignments BW 42 - Big Bokeh

 A series of photographs for the 52 Assignments-Black & White Photography project (#42).

1.  Portrait

My buddy and I took simultaneous portraits of each other to satisfy the Portrait bokeh assignment.

Dueling Portraits

Sony A7 IV @ f4 1/640 55mm  ISO 100

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

Photographed 10/7/23

2.  Landscape

Bands of leaves & logs  for the Landscape bokeh assignment.


Leaves and Logs

Sony A7 IV @ f1.4 1/2000 85mm  ISO 100

Rokinon AF 85mm F1.4

Photographed 10/7/23

3.  Nighttime Street

Through the windshield on a rainy evening for the Nighttime Street bokeh assignment.

Night Scope

Sony A7 IV @ f3.5 1/125 48mm  ISO 400

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

Photographed 10/11/23

4.  Abstract

Through the windshield on a rainy evening for the Abstract bokeh assignment.

Rain and Lights

Sony A7 IV @ f4 1/125 65mm  ISO 3200

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

Photographed 10/11/23

Shoot the Shadow

52Frames - Week 23 - Negative Space

Taking advantage of a harsh sun, regular pavement and a small camera.

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f4.5 1/1250 40mm equiv ISO 100

Photographed 6/7/23

2023_CLondon52_January: Setting Goals

From the C.London website: "Each year we start out by considering why we’re participating in this project. Whether personal or professional, identifying goals makes the following year more meaningful and intentional. For this month, the prompts are all focused on helping you to identify how to make the most out of the project."

"1.  Past experiences with photography.  Every participant comes to this challenge at a different stage in their photographic journey. Show us where you are - in whatever manner you prefer." 

This is my 3rd year participating in this challenge.  I’ve grown a lot in the past year and have found a photographic direction as described on the “About” page of my website.  The direction is broad, but so are my interests.  I like making photos where the viewer can see things they might have missed the first time.

Take-Out

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f2.8  1/160  71mm equiv  ISO 2500

Photographed 1/1/23

"2.  Another hobby or passion. One of the best ways to get good at photography is to join it with something else you’re passionate about. Use your other hobbies as inspiration for this photo."

Besides photography, my grandkids, golf and cycling are my three most active hobbies.  Since it’s winter in the USA midwest, golf and cycling are on hiatus.  These images reflect favorite times which are spent with my granddaughter and grandson.

Early Reader

Apple iPhone 12 Pro @ f1.6  1/30  4.2mm  (26mm equiv) ISO 640

Photographed 1/4/23

Like Grandfather, Like Grandson

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f3.5  1/160  40mm equiv  ISO 1600

Photographed 1/4/23

"3.  Artistic fears.  A huge hurdle to get over is identifying what scares you about your art.  Take this as an opportunity to face one of those fears." 

Although more introvert than extrovert, I most enjoy making photos that include people.  Even though I’ve been engaged in street photography for almost 12 years, I am still nervous when approaching strangers or making candids with a shorter lens.  Over the years I have met many interesting people because of a camera in my hand, so I push through the discomfort and keep at it.  I met Joe & Ziggy while scouting out locations for a self-portrait to be used in another 52 week photo challenge.  Total strangers.  I asked; they obliged.

Man's Best Friend

Sony A7 IV @ f1.4 1/800 85mm  ISO 100

Rokinon AF 85mm F1.4

Photographed 12/29/22

"4.  A main photographic goal for the year.  What do you hope to get out of this challenge? Make a photo that illustrates what you hope to achieve photographically in 2023."

Getting better at visual storytelling and more comfortable photographing strangers are ongoing goals.  Allowing myself the freedom to be less “documentary” and more abstract in photographing are new goals for 2023.

Even though there was a glass barrier with floating bubbles between me and the restaurant seating area, I felt self-conscious as I made photos through the glass.  One guy actually did ask me if I took his photo; I hadn’t.  This image represents a more abstract approach than I normally take.

Beyond the Bubbles

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f3.5  1/160  40mm equiv  ISO 2500

Photographed 1/8/23

Jeff

52Frames - Week 1 - Self-Portrait (alternate)

Alternate selection from the Week 1 self-portrait shoot for 52Frames.

Sony A7 IV @ f1.4 1/1000 85mm ISO 100

Rokinon AF 85mm F1.4

Photographed 1/2/23

Inspired by a Friend

52Frames - Week 1 - Self-Portrait

A photography friend, @aarondigruccio, recently posted a portrait on Instagram that resonated with me.  Aaron shoots Fuji and often uses a 50mm f1 lens for his portraits.  I was inspired to emulate that portrait with a selfie using my 85mm lens wide open at f1.4. Very pleased that Aaron approves of this interpretation.

Sony A7 IV @ f1.4 1/1000 85mm ISO 100

Rokinon AF 85mm F1.4

Photographed 1/2/23

Aaron's photo

Selfie Study

Thinking ahead to 2023 Week 1 of 52Frames and checking out a few options for a new self-portrait.  Also, time to update the one on the website.

Sony A7 IV @ f5.6 1/6 200mm ISO 12800

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

Photographed 12/8/22

Layers

52Frames - Week 9 - Reflections

Extra Challenge:  Optical Illusion

Totally using this photo as a streak-saver.  This shot was so spontaneous, days later I could not figure out from which direction it was taken until I reviewed the outtakes.  Another instance where having the GRIIIx at hand paid off.

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f4 1/160 40mm equiv ISO 500

Photographed 3/2/22

Photo of Photos

52Frames - Week 6 - Depth of Field

We took our grandson to visit his 94 year old great-grandmother.  He loved looking at all the pics she had displayed on her window sill, and naming all the people he knows.  When I gave him his camera to play with, one of the things he shot was all the pics he looked at.

For this challenge, I made the pics the in-focus subject and my grandson as an out-of-focus foreground element.

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f3.5 1/160 40mm equiv ISO 3200

Photographed 2/9/22

Shutterbug

A collection of my grandson's first photos from January 11-12, 2022.

All photos straight out of his new camera; no editing.

 

Shutterbug

Now that my grandson (2.5 years old at this writing) has his own camera, I’m starting a collection of photos made of him and by him.  The first in this series was a diptych found here and was of simultaneous photos.

These and future postings will all have the keyword tag “Shutterbug”.

Viewfinder?

Sony A7C @ f1.8 1/250 35mm ISO 3200

Samyang AF 35mm F1.8

Composing

Sony A7C @ f1.8 1/250 35mm ISO 5000

Samyang AF 35mm F1.8

All photographed on 1/11/22

Ready, Set, Click...

2022_CLondon52w2: Your Passion

From the C.London website: "Let’s see what makes you tick. Make a photo that shows what you love - you can be as concrete or abstract with this as you’d like. For example, if you’re a musician, you can take a photo of your instrument (concrete), or maybe a long exposure of someone dancing (abstract). Try and highlight what makes this your passion so that a viewer can interpret your love and respect for whatever it is."

Photography, golf and cycling are my hobbies, the passion for which varies depending on circumstances, physical condition and time of year.  Passion for my grandson remains constant as any time I can spend with him is a treasure.  The ability to engage in a hobby with my grandson is a 1+1=3.

Last week, when he grabbed my expensive GRIIIx and wanted to just push buttons to take pictures, I knew it was time to get him a camera.  I had planned to do so for his 3rd birthday in July but decided to accelerate the purchase and preserve the safety of my gear.  A $30 digital camera off of Amazon was perfect and this week introduced him to it.  115 photos in less than an hour.  He doesn’t quite grasp the concept of holding the camera without fingers on the lens, but he’ll get there.  These first images are precious and priceless and will have a permanent place on my hard drive.

The diptych is of us simultaneously taking a picture of each other.  Ready, set, click…

Sony A7C @ f1.8 1/250 35mm ISO 10000

Samyang AF 35mm F1.8

Photographed 1/11/22

Tools of the Trade: Redux

CLondon52w52: Revisiting Goals

From the C.London website: "We’ve made it! 52 weeks later! Let’s revisit those initial goals. How did you fare? Are you feeling more confident in your own work? More focused in where you want to go from here? I hope it was a year of growth, new photography friends, and inspiration. For our final image, we’re going to create the image from either week one or week 26 (your choice!) I’d also love it if you accompanied that image with something you’ve gained from this experience. Congrats on making it through!"

My primary photography goal in 2021 was to become a better visual storyteller.  “Every picture has a story. It may be factual. It may be fictional. It may be intentional.  It may be accidental.  It may be superficial or it may be deep.  But it’s there, somewhere.”  Looking back over my 2021 photos, definite progress has been made and it’s still a work in progress moving into 2022.

In re-creating the Week 1 image, my intent was to simplify, and represent that simplification from the software I use, to the paring back of the kit I shoot with, to visual treatment of the image.  This weekly challenge has truly been a huge learning experience, supported by the additional Chelsea coaching and comments, critiques & inspiration from the many new photography friends I’ve been fortunate to “meet”.  Looking forward to 2022!

Apple iPhone 12 Pro @ f2.0 1/120 6mm (52mm equiv) ISO 250

Photographed 12/27/21

Gear Test

52Frames - Week 16 - Edited By Someone Else

Extra Credit: Shoot in RAW

Went to a physical store to check out a full frame camera and some lenses I've been considering.  I love the form factor of my Sony a6600 and wanted to hold and shoot with the a7C which is slightly thicker. Also checked out some full frame Tamron lenses on both the a6600 and a7C.

While I could not save any of the shots from the a7C (no SD card), I was able to save those made with the a6600.  I sent 4 of them off to a 52Frames & C.London 52 Weeks photographer friend, Phil Olson, for selection and editing.

Phil describes his editing as follows: "On the camera shot, I did a 16 x 9 crop and really just brightened up the background to make the camera pop.  Gave it a touch of color grading and tone curve."  Since, Phil shoots Sony also and has the Tamron 28-75mm f2.8 lens I'm considering, I picked this image as the most appropriate for this week's challenge.  Great job...thanks Phil!

Sony A6600 @ f2.8 1/125 171mm (256.5mm equiv) ISO 1600

Tamron E 70-180mm f2.8 A056 

Photographed 4/14/21