There, I said it. Social media isn't the source of our problems, but rather a reflection or amplification of them.
Read MoreSocial Media isn't the problem. It's you.
in journal
Editing Film Scans
in journal
Today's video is a bit different. And rather long. I go through two rolls of film from my recent trip to Oregon and edit the 24 shots in Lightroom.
Read MoreDune, Death Valley, December 2017
in photographs
Camera and Lens: Bronica SQ-Ai, Zenzanon PS 80mm f/2.8
Film stock: Ilford Pan F
Exposure: 50
Developer: Ilfotec HC
Another exposure of a sand dune in Death Valley National Park.
I like to play with wide apertures when making images of scenes like this one. The wind on the top of the dune and a relatively slow shutter speed helped to create this effect of a soft dune on the bottom and top.
The shadow on the right splits the frame as well.
It's also a frame from one of the two rolls of Pan F I exposed during the road trip. I should use it more often since it's a film stock I enjoy exposing.
Back in Oregon, Day 1
in journal
First video of my short trip to Oregon a few weeks ago. I was too tired to do much after several hours of travel, but I still managed to do a quick trip to the Columbia River Gorge and visit a waterfall.
Read MoreThe last of winter, Michigan City, February 2018
in photographs
Camera and Lens: Bronica SQ-Ai, Zenzanon PS 150mm f/4
Film stock: Ilford HP5+
Exposure: 800
Developer: Ilfotec HC
Watch the video where I made this image: "Shooting film: The last of winter".
I'd been waiting for a day like this the whole winter. As I said before, landscape photography is all about the conditions. I couldn't dream of better conditions for photography than the ones I had this day.
It was a foggy day, and I decided to head north to Michigan City where I intended to photograph Lake Michigan. On my way there, I stopped by multiple spots trying to make the most of that incredible weather.
One of these stops was a park outside the city, a place I spotted on Google Maps when I was approaching my final destination. I gave it a try, and I found "photography heaven".
A foggy, snowy, and calm park with beautiful trees. No one around. Mostly clean snow, with not many footprints. Incredible light. It wasn't even that cold.
I spent an hour in that tiny park. I shot almost two rolls. So worth it.
How to preview your film negatives with your phone
in journal
This is a quick tip for those who, like me, can't wait to see the images on that negative we just developed.
Once you've seen a few negatives, you get a good understanding of how the photo will look, but there's nothing like seeing the positive version of the image.
I use my phone to get a quick sneak peek, this is how I do it.
Read MoreShooting film: "The last of winter"
in journal
Winter is over here in the Midwest. Sure, it's still cold (it went down to 20F this last night), but the white and snowy landscapes are gone for good, I'm afraid.
In this video, I drove to Michigan City at the shore of Lake Michigan in an attempt to capture the last of winter. I found heavenly conditions for photography and I made some of my favorite images here.
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Multnomah Falls, Oregon, February 2018
in photographs
Camera and Lens: Bronica SQ-Ai, Zenzanon PS 150mm f/4
Film stock: Ilford HP5+
Exposure: 800
Developer: Ilfotec HC
I've been working hard on developing, scanning and editing the photos from my recent trip to Oregon. I still have a few rolls left, but I'm happy with the results I've seen so far.
This exposure was taken from the parking lot of the Multnomah Falls. Not only because you can't really get much closer due to a wildfire this past summer, but also because I really think this is the best spot to photograph the falls.
It was from there where I took the long exposure of the falls at night that you can see in the archives.
Point Lobos, San Francisco, November 2017
in photographs
Camera and Lens: Bronica SQ-Ai, Zenzanon PS 150mm f/4
Film stock: Ilford HP5+
Exposure: 800
Developer: Ilfotec HC
I've already talked about Point Lobos and the Sutro Baths here before. This is another exposure I took there in the early morning of some old stairs that led to the ocean.
Practice more by shooting less
in journal
The faster, the better. Or so it seems these days.
A few days ago, I was struck by a photographer telling people that in order to learn they should go out every day and shoot as much as they can. Then, they'd have to go through those few hundred photos before the day is over and select 1 or 2. Next day, repeat.
What this photographer seems to be missing is that photography is much more than taking a picture.
Read MoreAmerican Road Trip Journal #20: Alabama Hills
in journal
In this episode of the American Road Trip, I visit one of the most beautiful places I've seen in the US: the Alabama Hills.
Read MoreFrozen, Lake Michigan, February 2018
in photographs
Camera and Lens: Bronica SQ-Ai, Zenzanon PS 50mm f/3.5
Film stock: Ilford HP5+
Exposure: 800
Developer: Ilfotec HC
It was as cold as it looks. Freezing.
It isn't easy to walk here. Your feet keep slipping through the hundreds of balls of ice that are all over the place. Sometimes you fall through as deep as your knee, and it hurts.
I'd never been here before, so I don't know what this place looks like without the snow and ice. Am I walking on the beach still? Or is there a lake under me?
Regardless, this is my absolute favorite place to shoot in Northern Indiana / Michiana. I'm planning on going back there once more before the spring gets here, and check how much of this frozen land is still there.
The importance of taking a break
in journal
I was supposed to be in Tennessee this week. Or in the Upper Peninsula in Michigan. Those were my two destinations for March. At the end, I decided to stay home.
I’ve been shooting a lot lately. I thought I wouldn’t for a while after the road trip, but the winter here in Northern Indiana has been beautiful, and then I went to Chicago and Portland where I put almost 1,000 miles on the rental car in just 4 days.
So I decided to take a break from making images. It’s been 11 days since I took my last photo with the Bronica; it feels a bit weird but I don’t have that rush I usually have. Not yet. I think it was a necessary break.
I’m still working hard on my photography, just everything that isn’t using the camera: developing film from Portland, writing on the blog, editing videos for my YouTube channel, uploading stock photos and pitching some editorial work. I’ve also been reading some books and playing the piano, not only because I like it but also as an attempt to feed the creativity.
My next photography trip is planned and almost fully booked, but it won’t happen for another month. I know that I will feel that rush to get out before that, but for now, I’m letting the camera rest for a bit.
Sticks in the snow, Indiana, February 2018
in photographs
Camera and Lens: Rolleiflex, 75mm f/3.5
Film stock: Ilford HP5+
Exposure: 800
Developer: Ilfotec HC
This is an almost cliche image, but I couldn't resist during my morning walk with the dog after a snowstorm here in Northern Indiana.
It's also a good excuse to share an image not made with the Bronica. I always have a camera with me, if it's not the big Zenza then it will be either the Rolleiflex or the Holga.
Shooting film: Chicago, day 3
in journal
Third and last day in Chicago, and I had a sunrise mission: take a long exposure of downtown Chicago. I'd tried the days before but I didn't feel like I actually had gotten it so this time I went a bit farther north.
Sierra Nevada from the White Mountains, December 2017
in photographs
Camera and Lens: Bronica SQ-Ai, Zenzanon PS 150mm f/4
Film stock: Ilford HP5+
Exposure: 800
Developer: Ilfotec HC
On my way to the Bristlecone Grove and already on top of the White Mountains in Eastern California, I ran across this view.
All these mountains you can see on this image, including the one I was on, are at least 10,000 feet high. In the foreground, the White Mountains. In the background, the Sierra Nevada. In between, the Owens Valley. This valley is 6,000 feet lower, making it one of the deepest in the US.
Here I tried to capture the contrast between the two mountain ranges and hint the existence of the valley in between them.
From up here and looking west, you can see most of the Sierra Nevada. Turn around to the east and you can see parts of Death Valley. The highest mountains and the lowest point in the continental US, all in an amazing 360 view.
I lost count of how many times I've said it, but this is one of my favorite areas in the US and one of the most beautiful landscapes I've seen.
I loved this thing. I sold it. I don't miss it.
"What camera should I buy?"
in journal
This is one of the questions I get asked the most.
My short, quick, TL;DR... answer is always the same: get the camera you enjoy shooting with the most.
Keep reading if you want to hear me out as I go deeper into what I think you should consider when choosing a new camera.
Read MoreMoonrise, Joshua Tree, December 2017
in photographs
Camera and Lens: Bronica SQ-Ai, Zenzanon PS 150mm f/4
Film stock: Ilford HP5+
Exposure: 800
Developer: Ilfotec HC
Another exposure from Joshua Tree National Park.
I've been developing some fascination with the Moon lately. Not only for experiments like long exposures, but I also like to take regular exposures of the moonrise like this one.
There's something unnatural about seeing the bright Moon in the sky, and the shadows that the landscape creates going in the opposite direction. Somehow, it has a very calming feeling to me.
I took a few similar ones, but this one was the strongest in my opinion.
a6500 with the beautiful kit lens
About that Sony A7III
in journal
I apologize in advance for this Saturday morning rant
Is it me or it feels like everyone is freaking out about the new Sony A7III?
As the former owner of an A7II and a current user of a Sony a6500, I was really interested in seeing what they'd come up with for this new generation of cameras. I'm overwhelmed about the reaction to this camera and underwhelmed about the camera itself.
Read MoreCracked Ice, Salamonie River Forest, February 2018
in photographs
Camera and Lens: Bronica SQ-Ai, Zenzanon PS 150mm f/4
Film stock: Ilford HP5+
Exposure: 800
Developer: Ilfotec HC
I've said it many times, and I'll say it again: I loved photographing the winter here in the Midwest. It gets so cold that the ice is everywhere, freezing creeks, rivers and lakes.
During one of my several walks through the Salamonie River Forest, I ran across this scene. A crack on the frozen lake and some footprints that seemed to have caused such crack (although that wasn't the case).
I'm going to miss the winter.