Prayer for Compassion
David Darling, a cellist, was one of my favorite musicians. His albums “Prayer for Compassion” and “Eight-String Religion” are my favorites, and I listen to them almost daily. This church, stately and serene, bathed in afternoon light, reminded me of his music. The church was mostly obscured byContinue Reading
When In Disgrace with Fortune…
I have no idea what this statue is supposed to represent. My immediate reaction was that it showed a man in anguish. It’s in black and white because the Porta 400 loaded in the other camera would not have captured the despair it seemed to convey—a man beweeping hisContinue Reading
Don’t Even Think About It…
When I saw this sign, I laughed out loud. This is the only sign with this warning that I’ve seen on the Carter Center grounds. It’s right next to the hydrant and very low—at dog height. Perhaps, too many unwanted “gifts” have been left by the hydrant,Continue Reading
VMLP 44: Minolta MD Zoom 50-135mm f/3.5—Well…
The MD Zoom 50-135mm is part of Minolta’s zoom boom of the late 70s that began with the arrival of the XD/XG camera models. Between 1978 and 1985, 16 zooms were released, ranging from the 24-35mm to the 100-500mm. Many of these zooms are rather expensive and seem notContinue Reading
Stopping by a Stairway on an Autumn Afternoon
Located at the rear of the Carter Center, near the lake, this stairway allows one to descend from the noise of the city to the quiet of the lake. The bottom of the stairway is covered by a canopy of trees that blocks light as much as sound, offering aContinue Reading
Library Update: Two More Black and White Photography Books
Like everyone else, I’m always looking for ways to improve my photographs. I’ve read books on foundational topics, such as the zone system and rules of composition, and now, after six years, it’s time to do my photography—time to explore. As with any creative field, the next step isContinue Reading
VMLP 43: Minolta AF 28mm f2.8—Adequate and Inexpensive
Autumn in Atlanta this year was warmer than usual, making November sunny with comfortably warm days and clear nights. Inspired by the weather, I wandered around the city more than usual, shooting nine rolls in two weeks—a record. When deciding what to shoot, it dawned on me thatContinue Reading
The Towers That Be
I have attempted to photograph these columns multiple times, and each time something has gone wrong. On one visit, the lens’s field of view did not fit my conceptualization. Next, I used a 24mm lens on a camera with a bad light leak. Another time, I droppedContinue Reading
Okay—Who Did What?
This warning sign is near the back (south side) of the Old Fourth Ward Park reservoir, where the water is quite deep. Whenever I see a sign like this, I wonder what triggered its installation. At the north side of the park, the reservoir has a shallow edgeContinue Reading
The Fab 50’s: Slowly Working My Way Through Minolta’s Normal Lenses
The 50mm focal length is a mainstay of photography. Budding photographers are advised to get a 50mm lens as their first purchase. Leica Thread Mount (LTM) rangefinders offered 50mm lenses before SLRs existed. And when SLRs arrived in the late 1950s, 50mm lenses were among the very first lensesContinue Reading
