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

Hanging Around The House

52 Frames - Week 36 - Shoot From Above

This week is a streak-saver for sure. My first plan, a photo from an airplane, fell apart with a last-minute change of plans for our trip to Europe. The second idea fell apart when I discovered my drone controller cable was not compatible with my current phone. This last (and lame) idea...shooting above an ant hill...at least keeps the streak alive.

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f5.6 | 1/500 | 40mm equiv | ISO 800

Photographed 9/5/25

Fifty Fifty

52Frames - Week 32 - Macro

My macro lens is a 50mm F2.8 Sony and I used it to shoot this 50mm F2 Leica Summitar, a lens manufactured in 1948 that I'm thinking about adding to my collection of M-mount lenses.

Sony A7IV @ f10 | 1/100 | 50mm | ISO 12800

Sony FE 50mm F2.8 Macro

Photographed 8/9/25

Expensive Drop

52 Frames - Week 20 - Water

EC: Water Droplet Photography

I love it when IRL situations provide opportunity for the weekly 52Frames challenge (and EC).  I hate it when it costs alot of $$$.  This week, a simple cartridge replacement is turning into a more complicated endeavor due to a leaky shower valve.

Sony A7IV @ f5 | 1/125 | 50mm | ISO 800

Sony FE 50mm F2.8 Macro

Photographed 5/18/25

Unleavened Lands

52Frames - Week 15 - Details

EC: Use A Macro Lens

Happy Passover to those who celebrate.

Sony A7IV @ f11 | 1/125 | 50mm | ISO 12800

Sony FE 50mm F2.8 Macro

Photographed 4/9/25

Face-Off

52Frames - Week 16 - Anthropomorphism

The ceramic tile in our bathroom shower has abstract patterns from which I've seen faces for years...and never photographed them until now.

It is easier to see the faces at a smaller images size, rather than full screen.

Sony A7IV @ f2.8 | 1/200 | 50mm | ISO 3200

Sony FE 50mm F2.8 Macro

Photographed 4/15/24

Veins

52Frames - Week 19 - Details

Keukenhof Gardens

The Netherlands

Was hard to choose from this 79 acre display of the most incredible flowers.

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f7.1 1/50 40mm equiv ISO 1250

Photographed 5/9/23

Galactic

52Frames - Week 15 - Dreamscape

From my kitchen.

Sony A7 IV @ f4 1/125 50mm ISO 800

Sony FE 50mm F2.8 Macro

Photographed 4/11/23

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

Remembrance

52Frames - Week 47 - Wabi Sabi

When my wife was setting the Thanksgiving table, I pulled out some old cut crystal wine goblets my 90 year old aunt gave us before she passed away last year.  We appreciated her, and these goblets are a reminder.

I made a series of macros and chose this photo because of the turkey decorations captured as part of the refractions.

Sony A7 IV @ f13 1/50 50mm ISO 12800

Sony FE 50mm F2.8 Macro

Photographed 11/23/22

Favorite Snack

52Frames - Week 43 - Details

Kemps Caribou Coffee Java Chunk ice cream topped with frozen Nestle semi-sweet chocolate morsels.

Sony A7 IV @ f5.6 1/100 50mm ISO 12800

Sony FE 50mm F2.8 Macro

Photographed 10/28/22

String Cheese Incident

2022_CLondon52w41:  ARTIST SPOTLIGHT:  Musician of Your Choice

From the C.London website:  "Music is so divisive, and trying to elicit inspiration from music that doesn’t jell with you would not necessarily be constructive. So, for this artist spotlight, I’m letting you choose any musician that you want to focus on. Be sure to share with us who it is!"

My older son introduced me to String Cheese Incident and we went to see them at Red Rocks Amphitheater on July 23, 2010.  These images are reminiscent of songs in the set list from both the 7/23/10 & 7/24/10 shows.  SCI has been a favorite band ever since.

"Restless Wind"

Spectre + Apple iPhone 12 Pro @ f2.0  3"  6mm (52mm equiv)  ISO 25

Photographed 10/8/22

"Blackberry Blossom" (Alternate)

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f6.3 1/200 40mm equiv ISO 125 Macro

Photographed 10/7/22

Fuchsia

52Frames - Week 31 - Choose A Color

From colorpsychology.org, "When it comes to psychology, the color fuchsia inspires confidence, assurance, and maturity.  Some say that if fuchsia is your favorite color then you want to be different from the rest and live your life from your own viewpoint rather than do what others think you should."

Not my favorite color, but I like it and its meaning.

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f3.5 1/200 40mm equiv ISO 100

Photographed 8/6/22

Veggies

2022_CLondon52w25: Check-In

From the C.London website: "We’re coming up on the middle of the year. How has it been so far? Have you been able to keep up? If so, color me impressed! I know just how difficult this challenge can be and how easy it is to let the weeks slip by.

For you, the ones who are all caught up, your prompt this week is to go back and find your one favorite and your one least favorite images from the challenge so far. Break down what it is that you like about the favorite, and what challenges you faced with the least favorite. Try and be extra critical, and if you’re open to it, share them on our subreddit, discord, flickr discussion board, or facebook group and ask for feedback from your peers. You now have the option of recreating the least favorite with your critical eye in mind. While you may not be able to recreate it exactly, use it as an inspirational jumping off point and focus on what you’d like to improve about it."

Favorite: Does He Not See Me?

I loved the humor & spontaneity of this scene as I watched it unfold. Was perfect for Martin Parr week and represents the "slices of life" scenes I enjoy capturing.

Least Favorite: Tomahawk

While this photo responded to the prompt "Commitment", the composition & lighting do not enhance the pork chop. Actually, it's kinda gross. The two biggest challenges were available lighting while dining outside at night and a 40mm focal length.

This week's photo utilizes the same focal length, better lighting, flatlay composition and the same 40mm focal length to convey a more appetizing scene of my wife's fantastic salad creation.

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f16 1/30 40mm equiv ISO 640 [Macro & on-camera flash]

Photographed 6/20/22

Lots of Cents

52Frames - Week 15 - Extreme Closeup

EC: Focus Stacking

I used this week as another opportunity to try out focus stacking on the Arsenal 2 AI-driven photo device. This photo is a stack of 10 shots composited by Arsenal 2.

Sony A7C @ f11 .5" 50mm ISO 100

Sony FE 50mm F2.8 Macro

10 image focus stack

Photographed 4/12/22

Sunlight Macros

Some afternoon sunlight shots from around the condo.

 
"Glass Tray"

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f3.5  1/160  40mm equiv  ISO 1250

Photographed 3/20/22

"Stacking Tables"

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f4  1/160  40mm equiv  ISO 640

Photographed 3/20/22

"Santorini Sculpture"

Ricoh GRIIIx @ f8  1/160  40mm equiv  ISO 6400

Photographed 3/25/22

Focus Stack Experiments

Testing out the focus stack function of a new AI-based Arsenal 2 camera device on macros of some kitchen utensils.  These are 11 shot stacks automatically composited by the Arsenal 2 device.  I don't quite have it figured out yet so will keep at it.  

 
"Focus Stack 1"
Sony A7C @ f11  1/90  50mm  ISO 1600

Sony FE 50mm F2.8 Macro

"Focus Stack 2"

Sony A7C @ f11  1/90  50mm  ISO 1600

Sony FE 50mm F2.8 Macro

"Focus Stack 3"

Sony A7C @ f11  1/15  50mm  ISO 200

Sony FE 50mm F2.8 Macro

"Focus Stack 4"

Sony A7C @ f11  1/15  50mm  ISO 320

Sony FE 50mm F2.8 Macro

All Photographed 2/23/22

Metaphor

C.London52w9 - Stillness

From the C.London website: Open For Interpretation

Stillness can be physical, mental and/or emotional.  This plant is a metaphor in my life.  It’s continued thriving and spawning of new growth brings me a sense of peace and emotional stillness.

Sony A6600 @ f16 1/60 50mm (75mm equiv) ISO 5000

Sony FE 50mm f2.8 Macro

Photographed 2/27/21

Going Nuts

C.London52w5 - Mundane

From the C.London website: Open For Interpretation

Being so wide open, this was a difficult challenge. My take was to demonstrate mundane in an interesting photo. Tedious is a synonym of mundane and that is the path I embarked upon. Trying to spell words with small objects turned out to be a bust.

So rather than going nuts with that tedious task, I just emptied the jar into the cap and photographed the outcome. 

Sony A6600 @ f6.7 1/60 50mm (75mm equiv) ISO 6400 Off-camera flash

Sony FE 50mm f2.8 Macro

Photographed 2/2/21

Needle River

52Frames - Week 50 - Alternate (Texture)

I saw these clumps of pine needles for this week's Texture challenge.  Fortunately, had a sunny day to catch good color and bokeh, and got to use the new macro lens.

However, this shot dropped to second place when I found the previously posted shot of the cigarette butt.

Taken 12/9/20