Basil and Tomatoes–Edible Sunlight
I love tomatoes. As a child, tomatoes were a treat in the same way as other fruit. I was picky about my tomatoes—they had to be fresh from the vine—store-bought tomatoes were just not the same. Tomatoes, warm from summer sun, seemed juicer and tangier than those from stores, despiteContinue Reading
Carpenter Bees and Wasps Are on the Deck…Must be Spring
The deck is a staple of American life. It’s the designated place for grilling, drinking, and socializing. We have a deck, not a big one, but it has served its purpose. Having a deck is my right as an American, so would someone please explain this to the carpenter bees. Continue Reading
Film is Expensive, but Who’s Counting?
The cost of film has gone up a lot in the past year. The first time I bought Lomography 400 film, it cost about 17 dollars; it’s now 27.00 plus shipping. Ilford raised prices, and Kodak did the same. My five-pack of Portra 160 that I bought for 35.00 atContinue Reading
Frame Works? If You Like Piña Coladas…
Description: Bottle of añejo rum with accoutrements Background: I discovered añejo rum for mixing drinks only five years ago. For years, I only kept and used white rum, usually Bacardi. My introduction to rum happened many years ago. The first attempt was sophomore year in college, which didn’t turn outContinue Reading
The Three Gardenias
Gardenias are lovely, evergreen shrubs, and aside from yearly trimming, they are generally carefree plants. When in bloom, they send out a lush fragrance that lingers far beyond their location. The west side of the house has harsh growing conditions compared to the rest of the yard. It is aContinue Reading
Metering Revisited (or The Story of Why I Have an 18% Gray Card)
I’ve had to delve further into metering, or more correctly, into inaccurate metering, than I cared to. While shooting film for the SR-3, I decided to do a few studio shots with the SR-3 and a Minolta 8000i. The SR-3 is from 1960 and has no internal meter, so IContinue Reading
Life in the Sun
It’s mid-March, and today the temp may reach 78 degrees. The azaleas are loaded with buds, and the daffodils are up—so, the cycle begins. Spring starts early here; the average daily high in March is around 65 degrees. The sun has moved from the very back of the house andContinue Reading
The Stages of Minolta Collecting
It has been two years since I bought my first “7,” the Maxxum 7000i. That Maxxum 7000i was my gateway to Minolta collecting. I was happily snapping away with my 40.00 7000i until I discovered it was only the second generation of level-seven Maxxums. Finding out there were five “7”Continue Reading
Garden Frame: A Rosemary Flower Portrait, Finally!!!
Description: Portrait of a small bouquet of rosemary flowers Background: When I planned the herb garden, two herbs, rosemary and thyme were accorded top billing. These I use frequently, and I liked the idea of being able to step outside and get them fresh. Thyme, I had successfully grown in the past,Continue Reading
Everyone Has a Dream Camera
There are cameras one dreams about having, and there are cameras that, owning them, one dreams about using. They aren’t necessarily the same camera. My father-in-law had a classic Leica from the 50s and a Rollei TLR. Those were his dream cameras. Until May 2019, the closest I had comeContinue Reading
