I took the Rolleiflex out and tried to make a few images in Chain O'Lakes, here in Indiana. I talk a little bit about the main features, what I like, and what I don't.
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A weekend in Indianapolis
I got to spend a couple of days in Indianapolis, the capital of Indiana. It was my first time there, and I really enjoyed the city. I didn't have a lot of time for photography, but I did what I could.
This is the video of our weekend in the city.
A very productive day at Lake Michigan's south shore
I'm back after a couple of weeks without videos. This time, from Lake Michigan, my favorite place to photograph in Indiana.
It was a long but very productive day. I revisited old places and used my newest lens for the first time.
Developing film in half the time with CineStill Df96 monobath solution
I finally had the chance to try CineStill's monobath solution, Df96. This product promises to do the job of three chemicals, all in one: developer, bath stop and fixer.
While I could see how that would save a lot of time, I wasn't so sure about the results I could get.
I've only developed 2 rolls of Ilford HP5 with this solution, but so far, I'm pretty happy with the negatives. And the best of all: I was able to do it almost twice as fast.
I love shooting film, but developing it isn't my favorite thing to do. That's why I welcome anything that makes it easier and faster, like CineStill Df96.
These are some of the images from those 2 rolls, shot with a Bronica SQ-Ai and a Holga (this one was in the camera for over a year and still turned out mostly ok).
How I avoid the temptation to shoot in color
As you might know, I make my images in black and white - and all the grays in between.
Sometimes when I'm out shooting, the colors are too beautiful to ignore. Many people wonder why I don't capture the scene that way.
The thing is, I do. A lot of my work is in color. I'm talking about the 200+ videos on my YouTube channel: over 2 years worth of trips, hikes and other adventures, all captured in color.
While making those movies, I try to compose every frame as if it was a photo I would take in color.
That's how I avoid the temptation: I don't, I shoot in color too.
A beautiful sunrise in Pacifica, California
I knew I had to make an image of this pier the moment I saw it for the first time. I had to wait just a few hours for the right conditions, though, so I woke up early and drove to Pacifica just before the Sun rose.
It was a beautiful morning.
Realism is overrated
Why I believe that realism is overrated.
An Ansel Adams pilgrimage in New Mexico
I didn't have the chance to photograph New Mexico during my last road trip across the US, and that was something I wanted and needed to fix. I spent 10 days there and photographed some of the places I had seen through the eyes and work for great artists and photographers, like Ansel Adams.
Editing "Moonrise, White Sands" in Adobe Lightroom CC
A short video showcasing the editing of my image "Moonrise, White Sands" made in New Mexico a few weeks ago, using Adobe Lightroom CC.
How I select my best images
I take a lot of pictures. A lot. That means I'll have to go through hundreds if not thousands of photographs after a trip, which can be overwhelming and take a lot of time.
I've developed a process over the years that is relatively fast and painless. This is how I select my best images.
Sunrise at the Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah
I had to wake very early and drive for almost 2 hours to get there, but it was totally worth it. What a morning at the Salt Flats.
A morning in Moab, Utah: photographing Corona Arch
Utah is one of those places every photographer should visit and photograph at least once in their life.
I'd been to the southern part of this beautiful state before (Zion, Monument Valley...), but I was missing on what are probably the most visited parks: Arches, Canyonlands and Capitol Reef, all very close to each other around this small town, Moab.
This trip wasn't supposed to change that, I want to spend some significant time in the area and this wasn't the best time to do so. I still wanted to get a glimpse of this sacred place for photographers and think about what I could create here in the future.
I only had one morning, and I decided to spend it photographing Corona Arch, just outside of Moab. This is the video of that morning.
Photographing Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado
I had an amazing time at Great Sand Dunes National Park. I had to drive quite a lot to get here, but it's one of those few locations on my list of "places I must go back". A breathtaking landscape.
Minimalist and abstract photography heaven: White Sands, New Mexico
I almost didn't make it to this location. I'm very glad I did, because I made some of my favorite images ever that morning in White Sands National Monument, New Mexico.
Hiking to Weavers Needle in the Superstition Wilderness, Arizona
It was a cloudy and windy day out in the Arizona desert wilderness.
Silent Shooting in Saguaro National Park
I love making these silent videos. Sometimes, there's nothing to say.
Are photo books a good investment?
In this video, I wonder about the value on buying photo books. Taking into consideration that we can look at images from our favorite photographers online, at any time and from anywhere, are books still a good investment?
I don't mean a financial investment, by the way. I mean an investment on our photography, to improve our vision and to get inspired.
Also in this video, I venture on the streets of Lisbon looking for a photo book. It'd be the first of my new collection. The chosen one: "Genesis", by Sebastião Salgado.
Photographing Buddha in Portugal
The most beautiful beach in Portugal: Ursa Beach
The coast of Portugal never disappoints.
A weekend in Lisbon with my new video camera: Sony RX100VA
In my quest to minimize and downsize my camera gear, I decided to look for a replacement to my beloved but bulky Sony a6500 + Sigma 16mm f/1.4 combo.
A few days ago, I purchased a Sony RX100VA. Interestingly, this is full circle for me since the Sony RX100II was the camera that got me started in photography, and the one I used for video for many years.
I spent this past weekend in Lisbon, where I had the chance to test the new camera. This video shows some footage and images from this beautiful portuguese city, and I also talk about the good and bad things about the Sony RX100VA.