Unintended Consequences from a Minolta Semi P (Or The Importance of Being In the Moment)
A common reason for taking up film photography is that it forces one to slow down. I started shooting film three years ago, so by that logic, I have already been “taking things slow.” But recently, I had an epiphany about what slowing down must encompass that came by wayContinue Reading
Discovering B&W Magazine: A Great Source of Examples and Inspiration
I found B&W Magazine while struggling to determine the best search term to locate film-based fine art photography magazines. To be clear, I was not looking for magazines about how to do photography or that offer gear suggestions and reviews. Instead, I was interested in seeing examples of fine artContinue Reading
Look What Just Arrived—Lenses, Cameras, and a Book
After settling on a Pentax 645 system, I had little interest in buying more gear. However, a few items have found their way to my door. There are three lenses, two cameras, and a book, and all charmed me with their reputations and unexpected affordability. Clearly, I had no choice.Continue Reading
The Return of Rainy Season
Gardening makes one pay attention to yearly cycles. Before I planted a yardful of flowers, rain was a random occurrence with pluses and minuses. It could be welcomed as a respite from the heat or dreaded as the bringer of humidity that makes it unbearable. It could be the reasonContinue Reading
A Minolta Compendium: My Collection of Minolta Camera, Lens, and Accessory Information Resources
Starting in 2019, I began compiling information about Minolta gear for my use. Soon, keeping track of where to find reviews and gear suggestions proved to be tiresome, so I wrote them down, and those notes became “Buying and Collecting Minolta: A Guide for Newbies.” At one point, I neededContinue Reading
2020-2022: The Most Popular Posts from Each Category
Who knows why some posts are wildly popular while others are not? I certainly can’t predict. I’ve tried to look for commonalities, but nothing jumps out. For those just finding my blog, here are the posts that have drawn the most views from Gardening Journey, Photography Journey, Amidst the Flowers,Continue Reading
Violets and Creeping Jenny—They are a Blessing and a Curse
Violets and creeping Jenny do not understand the concept of boundaries. Unfortunately, they both have beautiful colors and decorative leaves. As best I can tell, the violets that plague me came from next door 10 years ago or further back. They used to grow in my neighbor’s yard in patchesContinue Reading
All in with Pentax 645
I would wager that anyone serious about 35mm photography wants to try medium format at some point. A point-and-shoot plastic camera can do 35mm, but medium and large format—those are strictly big league. Medium format is not cheap, nor is it easy to get into. There are tons of booksContinue Reading
On to Winter and Black and White Photography
Last fall, I planned for a big 2022 garden season. New colors and groupings had captured my imagination; of course, I had a few potential floral images in mind. None of that panned out. Gardening season is past, and it is too early for me to consider next April. InContinue Reading
The Seven Kinds of Photographers I’ve Met
My journey in photography started a little more than three years ago. During that time, I have taken a darkroom class, read numerous blogs, sat for a family portrait, written a blog, participated in forums and discussion groups, read reviews, watched videos, and read multiple photography books. As someone whoContinue Reading
How I Learned to Appreciate Good Lenses
My first eBay purchase was a Maxxum 7000i with two lenses: a Minolta 35-80mm and a Minolta 75-300mm from the last generations of Minolta’s AF lenses. At 42.00 for the set, which included a flash, I thought I had done quite well. Generally, I was happy with my purchase, andContinue Reading
Bee Nip
Pass by the garden in midsummer and you notice a five foot high wall of green topped by deep purple flowers— “black and blue salvia.” I chose this plant because it is known to attract pollinators. What an understatement! From early morning until dusk, a cloud of beesContinue Reading
