Start your day accomplishing something

August 08, 2019 in journal

I recently read the book Make your bed by William H. McRaven. It's a just ok read, but the subtitle intrigued me:

"little things that can change your life"

The basic idea is that even the smallest things you do early on can trigger a chain reaction that will determine the rest of your day.

It resonated with me. This might sound familiar to you as well:

A lazy and unproductive day starts the night before, going to bed a bit later than usual. I'll get up a bit later and will be a bit more tired. Less time and less energy mean fewer things getting done. It's around noon when I realize I haven't done much, and usually give up my whole day by then. "It's already too late and I'm tired, I better leave this for tomorrow".

A productive day, on the other hand, starts by going to bed at a decent time, getting up early, and trying to accomplish something before the sun is out. Writing, going for a walk / run, or getting out to photograph are essential in my morning routine.

The day won't seem so overwhelming when it's still 8 or 9 in the morning and you've already accomplished something, even if they are small things.

And yes, I make my bed too.

How to know if we are progressing as photographers

August 08, 2019 in journal

How do we measure progression in a creativity work like photography? I'll be clear from the beginning: there's no progression in photography.

Images from the Elkhart County 4-H Fair

August 05, 2019 in journal

The Elkhart County Fair was one of my first experiences in America when I moved here back in 2013. It was definitely different from what I was used to, to say the least.

6 years later, I went back. It was a fun day of fair food, attractions and even a Demolition Derby.

Image of the Month, August 2019: "The Nest"

August 01, 2019 in journal

The Nest is the new Image of the Month for the month of August. This one took quite a bit of patience and waiting in the cold.

I made this image early on a foggy morning in NW Spain. The atmosphere was beautiful and I hope to have captured that with this picture. You can watch the video where I make it here: "Wildlife" photography with the Bronica.

two sizes

Remember: there are two sizes to choose from, 6x6 and 8x8 (inches). In both cases, the matt and frame are 12x12 (this means a bigger margin for the 6x6 print).

shipping included

Shipping is free to the US. International shipping is a flat rate of $14.95.

last few days for White Moon

White Moon is my bestselling image to date. Since I released it later in the month, it's still available at a reduced price. Hurry up, the offer will end in just a few days!

artist contract

A new image will be released every month and offered at a reduced price during that time. After 30 days, it will be sold at full price. They will never be on sale at any time in the future, the rate during the first month will be the lowest, ever.

want to know more?

You can find more information about how I create my images and all the details about pricing on The Art and Craft behind my prints.

The Nest is available for purchase here.

A very productive day at Lake Michigan's south shore

July 31, 2019 in journal

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.

Minimalist doesn't mean empty

July 26, 2019 in journal

This is a common misconception.

Minimalism isn't about having a lot of negative space in our images.

Minimalism is about what we include and, most importantly, about what we don't. It's about removing everything until we are left with just what the image requires to tell the story.

The Dragonfly

July 24, 2019 in journal

Early this morning during my walk I ran across a couple of dragonflies, just laying on the sidewalk. I have no idea if they were sleeping, resting or dead. I do this walk / run every morning and I had never seen them do that before.

Of course, I had my RX100VA with me so I tried to make a few images. I was able to get really, really close, and they didn't move.

I think I'll bring my bigger camera and some extension tubes tomorrow, just in case. It could be a great opportunity to do some "macro-insect" photography.

On the necessity of photography

July 22, 2019 in journal

Photography isn't a necessity for human beings. After all, we've been photographing for just a couple centuries and the species did just fine before that.

We need water, we need food, we need to sleep. But we don't *need* to photograph.

Why do we photograph, then? What's the point?

Developing film in half the time with CineStill Df96 monobath solution

July 19, 2019 in journal

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).

Alan Watts: "Life is not a journey"

July 19, 2019 in journal

Keep your eyes open

July 18, 2019 in journal

"Be curious. Stand up. Keep your eyes open. Don't shake. Don't blink" - Robert Frank

It really is this simple.

Why developing film is not a creative step of the process

July 18, 2019 in journal

Unless you are shooting large format and treating each image differently, I’d say no, developing film isn't a creative step.

Many people follow the indications from the manufacturer or some online recipe.

Others experiment with different developers, dilutions, time, agitation... and eventually settle on a formula that gives them the results they are looking for.

Most people just drop their film off at a lab.

In my case, I usually push my film 1 or 2 stops to create the aesthetics I want. It's a foundation that all the images from the roll will share.

This is equivalent to apply a preset in Lightroom or other editing software, something I wouldn't call creative.

In my opinion, it's when we compose, edit and print the image that we can be the most creative.

The camera settings I use for photography on my Sony RX100VA

July 18, 2019 in journal

I love my RX100. I use it every single day.

While full-frame gets all the headlines these days, there's no better camera than the one you have with you, and the RX100 fits that bill perfectly.

Despite the small size, this is a very powerful camera, full of features and settings. I like to use it mostly as a point and shoot camera so I try to keep things as simple as possible. These are the settings I use for everyday and on-the-go photography.

The power of adding up

July 17, 2019 in journal

When I started running, I thought it was about keeping a fast pace for as long as I could. Push myself to the limit, rest a few days, and repeat.

I didn't realize that more frequent but less intense exercise leads to better results. Doing it again tomorrow instead of taking the day off makes you stronger.

We usually underestimate the power of adding up.

That's why snacking -and not big meals- makes us gain fat. That's why one cigarette won't kill you, but smoking everyday will. That's why one avocado toast a day will cost you thousands of dollars over time.

I believe the same applies to photography.

Instead of (better yet, in addition to) pursuing a few incredible images a few times a year in a faraway land, why not try to create something every day wherever we are.

At first, it might look like we haven't done much. It's only over time that our efforts will start to add up, and we'll start to build something bigger than we ever thought.

Motivation comes from action

July 16, 2019 in journal

We believe that we need motivation to do something. Motivation leads to results. Thus we seek to be motivated, yet fail most of the time.

What if it was the other way around? What if our actions defined our motivation?

Then, all it'd take for us to be motivated is to do something.

The world needs you

July 15, 2019 in journal

I've been told many times -especially when working with film- about the right way to do things.

"Look at the masters", they say. "Do what they did", they repeat.

"It was all academic. You were taught to paint like somebody else, made me not want to paint at all. You want to paint your own way!"

Georgia O'Keeffe said it better than anyone else. Using just charcoal, she created beautiful -but radical for her time- abstract drawings. That wasn't what she was supposed to be doing. And yet, she became one of the greatest American artists of the 20th century.

Look at the masters, and then "kill" them and carve your own path. The world doesn't need another Ansel Adams or another Henri Cartier-Bresson.

The world needs you.

Summer downtime

July 12, 2019 in journal

The summer is always a slow time for me and my photography. I don't like the heat, and it's just too bright out there. I usually take some time to finish old projects and start new ones, something I can't really do when I'm on the road.

This year, I'm taking some time to work on old images, prints and (finally!) 2 upcoming books. I can't wait to share what I'm working on with you.

I haven't gone on a photography trip for almost 2 weeks (if we don't count the morning I spent at Chain O'Lakes), and I'm starting to have withdrawals.

This doesn't mean I haven't been making new images, though. I always -always- carry a camera with me. So even on days when I'm spending time with family (say, the 4th of July), or days when the most exciting thing I do is going on a walk around town, I'm still able to photograph something.

These are some of the images I've made during the last few days here in Indiana.

Forever a beginner

July 10, 2019 in journal

Experience doesn't matter when it comes to photography. If it did, all the greats would've created their best images at the end of their careers. That's rarely the case.

Actually, I'd argue that experience makes us and our art predictable. The more we do something, the less likely we are to try something new.

I believe we should strive to be beginners forever.

Hasselblad CFV II: an almost perfect system

July 09, 2019 in journal

I hadn't been so excited about a camera announcement since the Zeiss ZX1 (which by the way, hasn't been released yet -who knows if it ever will).

A few days ago Hasselblad announced the X1D II, the sucessor to their beautiful mirrorless medium format camera. New features and a greatly recuded price are always welcome. But for all purposes, it's more of the same. Just with a bigger sensor.

They also announced something else, though, something that got me really excited: the CFV II 50C.

Image of the Month, July 2019: "White Moon"

July 09, 2019 in journal

Finally, a new addition to the Image of the Month collection. I wasn't able to add any new images for the past 2 months as I was on a road trip across the US.

Goods news is, I have brand new pictures that I will be adding during the next few months. White Moon is the first of them.

That's not by chance. This is probably my favorite image from the trip, if not my favorite image ever.

I made it on a beautiful morning at the White Sands National Monument in southern New Mexico. You can watch the video where I make it here: Minimalist and abstract photography heaven: White Sands, New Mexico.

two sizes

For the first time, I'm offering this image in two different sizes: 6x6" and 8x8". I've been experimenting and they both work with my images, so I added the option to the whole collection.

The matt and frame are 12x12" for both print sizes.

shipping included

Shipping is free to the US now. International shipping is a flat rate of $14.95.

one year of Image of the Month

The first Image of the Month, "The last of winter", went on sale exactly 1 year ago. This will be the last month I offer it at its current price, which will increase by next month.