iPhone

I’m simply tired/frustrated/ticked/disappointed (you get the idea, fill in the blank) at folks who discount the value of mobile cameras for shooting anything.  Stills.  Video.  Doesn’t matter.  This isn’t about how great the mobile devices are becoming nowadays – I’ve always felt this way.  It’s never been about the equipment !  Get it right people.  There are plenty of videos out there where pros take the challenge of unlimited gear vs. mobile phone.  And the results?  Well, judge for yourself.  Here’s just one example I found.  And if it’s good enough for Steven Soderbergh, then it’s good enough for me.  I’m not saying that the mobile device should be your go-to camera – it’s simply another tool in the proverbial toolbox of gear.  Chase Jarvis even wrote a book about it.

“It’s NEVER been about the equipment!”

So, quit comparing megapixels and L-Series or Art lenses.  Stop the ridiculous talk about the sheer size of the camera/lens system.  Or how much it weighs.  Stop talking about how much everything costs.  This is nonsense.  It’s only ever been about the photographer and their eye.  Give the most expensive gear to a noob – see what happens. Give a point-and-shoot to a pro – see what happens.  Makes me wonder what brilliant things Ansel Adams would have done with an iPhone.

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Yep, you guessed it – shot on an iPhone.

My Corner

My little “corner of the world.”  Stay safe everybody.

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Winter

“Winter is here.”

Today’s checklist:

    1. Snowblower successfully started
    2. Winter Blend coffee in the hopper
    3. Snow on the ground
    4. GoT in the DVD player

Winter

 

That Night

From the entire staff @ Cedarmeade Studios, Merry Christmas!  🎄

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Christmas Time

“And the angel said unto them, ‘Fear not, for behold, I bring unto you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the City of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God, and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.’  That’s what Christmas is all about, Charlie Brown.”

– Linus Van Pelt

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MoM

So, tomorrow, along with 30+ other men I’ll be a MOM – aka, “Man on a Mission” – collectively known as “Men on a Misson.”  I’ve done this now for 3 or 4 years now and it’s a blast.  The creative side of me really gets jazzed about it – and tomorrow is absolutely no exception.  It’s an event that benefits the Highland Food Pantry so that’s all you need, right?  This year’s theme is tailgating and all I can say is if you’re a Steelers fan, you may want to come check out my display.  There’s no way you’ll miss it.  That’s all I’m saying.

A couple links to more info:

Winchester Star

Highland Food Pantry

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You’re gonna want to see this…

Change (aka I’m Old)

So I’ve arrived at that point in life where I can remember growing up with things and experiences and an entirely new generation can’t relate.  Sure there are those people who talk about certain things/experiences like they know.  They don’t know.  You’ve seen those lists and probably videos of products that millenials didn’t grow up with like cassette tapes, rotary home phones, home phones, the “pound sign,” 8-track casettes, Mickey butters, Atari 2600, Atari 5200, dial-up modems, floppy discs, Nick from Family Ties, Family Ties, console TVs, answering machines, Kodak disc cameras – good grief, the list goes on and on.  Now, I’m not saying kids these days don’t know about these things – they just didn’t grow up with them.  There’s a difference.  I was reminded recently when my sister got an air popcorn popper and had no idea how to use it.  It was fascinating to watch all her friends taking pictures and video (from their new-fangled smart phones no less!).

Good grief I feel old.  Now, get off my lawn!

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James Madison Univeristy’s new D-Hall replaces the previous round building that was my work home during my 4.5 years at the school. | See more images including some of the previous D-Hall.

Sunset

So my app told me there was a 47% chance of a decent sunset.  If this is 47% I can’t imagine what 100% looks like.

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The sun setting over Shenandoah Univeristy in Winchester, VA | Order a print of this image

Scene

Simply felt like a scene out of the movies.  I’m in a big, overgrown field (alone), photographing the landscape and out of nowehere the massive lightning storm erupts before me.  And just like in the movies, I’m telling myself “I gotta shoot this.  Just 5 more minutes.”  Have I not watched enought TV and movies to know better!!!

Scene

I got the shot. | Order a print.

Commence

It’s that time of year and I got to be a part of Shenandoah Univeristy’s version of it.  Always a pleasure.

Commence

Spring

Happy January 109th!

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Feb 2, 2019 – Offical start of open season on groundhogs!

Old Jake

I don’t get to shoot for myself much anymore so I have to grab any opportunity to get creative.  I’ve always wanted to shoot “Old Jake” so after a recent flight for a client, I did just that.  The original “Old Jake” weathervane is on display at The Museum of the Shenandoah Valley in Winchester, VA.

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Old Jake perched on top of Rouss Fire Hall in Winchester, VA | Order a print of this image.

The Eye

There’s lots of competition these days and I encourage any and all newcomers, but keep this in mind →  it doesn’t take a high-end camera, it doesn’t matter if you’ve got the latest “this” or spared no expense on “that” – it takes “the eye.”  Do you have the creative “eye?”  Equipment only matters up to a certain point.

The Eye

“The Eye” at The Handley Library.  The best camera is ALWAYS the one you have with you.

No Spoilers!

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May the force be with all those watching tonight.  I suppose I’m off social media now until I see it, huh?

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Small Business Saturday

Just another option for those of you who like to decorate your walls.  Although, products aren’t limited to wall decor.  The playing cards are pretty cool, too.

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There’s an actual Small Business Saturday gallery with local photography, but the coupon applies to all galleries.

My New “Toy”

I’m a big gear head.  Ask anybody who knows me.  A few years ago it was drones, but that’s just not enough anymore (at least in terms what my gear can do for me).  There’s always going to be the creative intuition that one has to have to separate themselves from competition and at that point EQUIPMENT DOESN’T MATTER.  The motivating factor behind getting new gear should be to take advantage of features/capabilities that your current gear can’t provide.  Well, absolutely none of my gear could do this!  I’m just gonna leave it there and let it speak for itself.

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Notes to Self

So along with about 5 million other people (give or take), I traveled to the path of totality.  How could I miss something like that?  Many thanks to my friend Brian Clark for motivating me to travel with him and his kids to experience it.  I may not have come away with the best images, but I experienced it.  It was all worth it.  The distance traveled, the traffic, the waiting.  Icing on the cake?  There’s another one in 2024.  I’ll see you there!

In the meantime, here are some notes to my future self so I don’t forget (the beauty of an online journal, right?):

  • Use the same camera to shoot both partial and total (the other camera is a backup)
  • Avoid extenders if at all possible.
  • Get a solar filter for the longest focal length.
  • Practice.  Actually practice.  It may seem silly, but now you know.
  • Take time away from the viewfinder and experience it.
  • A sturdy/hefty tripod ballhead is your best friend.
  • All camera bodies you use need a fully articulating LCD viewfinder.
  • Go ahead and rent that camera body you really wanted to rent this time around – it’ll be worth it.
Mid-day Sunset

The sunset horizon due North during totality.  One of several very specific images from my gallery – those who were there may appreciate them more than others. | More images here.

 

Travel

Apparently this has been the summer of travel and I’ve really got to work on the whole travel photography thing. I tend to overpack for any trip when it comes to my gear. About a third of my carry-on luggage was devoted to the overflow from my gear bag!  Anyway, from NYC to LA (yep coast-to-coast) I got some decent images.  Maybe it’s time to flip over to the whole mirrorless thing…

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Very other-worldly out there in the desert – the heat was making me see things.

Video

The reaction I get these days when I tell people I do video…”You do video?!”  Yes, I do video.  It’s ironic that most people think of me as a still photographer these days when video is actually how this all got started.  So for those that may have forgotten that I do video, here’s a reminder.