Photography

Totality

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After a three hour drive to Paris, Arkansas, I parked the car behind a roadside bar and awaited the moon to orbit in between the Sun and the Earth. I’ve experienced multiple solar and lunar eclipses but this was by far the best In a total coverage of the Sun.

I used the iPhone 15 Pro Max to capture the moment, shot in RAW and full magnification behind an old DSLR lens filter. Well, the neutral density filter was not strong enough so I just used the special-filter glasses for better results. 

While the others grabbed beer being served at 1PM on a Monday in small town Arkansas, I was setting up the tripod and watching the moon make its journey in between myself and the Sun. I lit my pipe and relaxed as the shadow slowly moved from the south. The sky turned cobalt blue, then purple and finally it was dark. Off to the west the sky glowed as if the sun were setting as it should but that won’t happen for another 7 hours. 

My eyes were darting back and forth from the astrological event above me and to the tripod to push the camera button as the slow shutter perfectly adjusted to the low light in the sky around the moon perfectly and even captured some solar prominences. 

The sky remained dark for a few minutes, the wind stopped and the temperature dropped. Everything was surreal and quiet except for the chatter of my companions. Can we not enjoy the moment in reverence?

Seven frustrating hours later I arrived back home to relax and wonder at what we had witnessed. Then it was my turn for a beer at the pub and thought it was appropriate to sing ”Eclipse” and “Brain Damage” by Pink Floyd. What a great misadventure today was. 

Totality

by

After a three hour drive to Paris, Arkansas, I parked the car behind a roadside bar and awaited the moon to orbit in between the Sun and the Earth. I’ve experienced multiple solar and lunar eclipses but this was by far the best In a total coverage of the Sun.

I used the iPhone 15 Pro Max to capture the moment, shot in RAW and full magnification behind an old DSLR lens filter. Well, the neutral density filter was not strong enough so I just used the special-filter glasses for better results.

While the others grabbed beer being served at 1PM on a Monday in small town Arkansas, I was setting up the tripod and watching the moon make its journey in between myself and the Sun. I lit my pipe and relaxed as the shadow slowly moved from the south. The sky turned cobalt blue, then purple and finally it was dark. Off to the west the sky glowed as if the sun were setting as it should but that won’t happen for another 7 hours.

My eyes were darting back and forth from the astrological event above me and to the tripod to push the camera button as the slow shutter perfectly adjusted to the low light in the sky around the moon perfectly and even captured some solar prominences.

The sky remained dark for a few minutes, the wind stopped and the temperature dropped. Everything was surreal and quiet except for the chatter of my companions. Can we not enjoy the moment in reverence?

Seven frustrating hours later I arrived back home to relax and wonder at what we had witnessed. Then it was my turn for a beer at the pub and thought it was appropriate to sing ”Eclipse” and “Brain Damage” by Pink Floyd. What a great misadventure today was.

Create > Document

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Recently, I discussed how my photography is now more of a documentary style rather than a portrait or landscape genre. But now that I have some time, I want to dive in and play with the existing images to create something entirely different.

Long ago, I purchased Pixelmator Pro, the alternative to the expensive Adobe Photoshop, but rarely had a chance to use it. So now I’m going to dust it off, take it out of the toy box and start to play.

1st layer is a photo from my Hipstamatic
2nd layer is from an old studio portrait session

The first step was to add two different images, one black and white and the other full-on color blast as a stark contrast. After manipulating both images individually as I needed, I then merged those separate layers into one and added some fine-tuning. It isn’t perfect. It doesn’t have to be since it is a first attempt, and I am playing. Learning as I go.

The final(?) image

Create > Document

by

Recently, I discussed how my photography is now more of a documentary style rather than a portrait or landscape genre. But now that I have some time, I want to dive in and play with the existing images to create something entirely different.

Long ago, I purchased Pixelmator Pro, the alternative to the expensive Adobe Photoshop, but rarely had a chance to use it. So now I’m going to dust it off, take it out of the toy box and start to play.

1st layer is a photo from my Hipstamatic
2nd layer is from an old studio portrait session

The first step was to add two different images, one black and white and the other full-on color blast as a stark contrast. After manipulating both images individually as I needed, I then merged those separate layers into one and added some fine-tuning. It isn’t perfect. It doesn’t have to be since it is a first attempt, and I am playing. Learning as I go.

The final(?) image

Time Travel

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Shooting landscape photography forces you to get outside and find the beauty around you. Sometimes this means discovering places right in front of your eyes that you just never noticed were beautiful before. Other times this means exploring new places and getting out on a hike or nature walk. For today’s newsletter, I wanted to share a few of my favorite landscape photos from sun up to sundown.

Sosua Sunrise in the Dominican Republic 19.77113761340401, -70.51491387823924

Rare is the opportunity to visit the places I want to go but when I do, the area is scouted and explored beforehand only then does the camera and tripod come out. 

The view of Mount Hood from Trillium Lake, Oregon 45.1608.2, -121.44165

How do I make these rare, beautiful images? There is an app called Photo Pils that assists photographers in knowing when and where the sun/moon are at any point and time. By using a that tripod to steady the camera, and then attach a neutral-density filter to the camera lens to block UV rays and glare. In post-processing the images, I’ll fire up the software and reduce the highlights, then boost the contrast accordingly. 

Smoky Mountains overlook on the Appalachian Trail on the border of North Carolina and Tennessee 35.56392555626713, -83.49724727382223

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“A picture means I know where I was every minute. That’s why I take pictures. It’s a visual diary.” – Andy Warhol

Nassau Harbor Lighthouse, The Bahamas 25.086286857364403, -77.35177315151846

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selcouthist- One who encounters the strange and unfamiliar with a boundless sense of wonder and awe.

Sunset on the Bolivar Peninsula, Texas 29.37149301401335, -94.72877909763226
Sunset on the Hidden Valley Nature Trail in Joshua Tree National Park, California 34.01412933993538, -116.16767922131318
The Milky Way Galaxy over Boca Chica beach near the Texas/Mexico border 25.993379848508418, -97.15022227498714

📷

“This is one corner… of one country, in one continent, on one planet that’s a corner of a galaxy that’s a corner of a universe that is forever growing and shrinking and creating and destroying and never remaining the same for a single millisecond. And there is so much, so much to see.” – Doctor Who

Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart, but that’s okay. The journey changes you; it should change
you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind.

Document > Create

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In the early years of my photography hobby, I would venture out and search for the most creative shots I could find. Using various tips and techniques that I had read about, I would try creative angles one day. Then the next outing would creatively use monochrome shots or some other techniques after that, and so on.

I would then send the 36-exposure roll off to the developing lab and eagerly await the prints while expecting something mesmerizing and unique to return. It very rarely returned unique or mesmerizing. The average return on film investment was about 2 images out of a 36-exposure stock. Expensive! Yet somehow, someway, I was hooked enough to go out there and try again.

When I acquired my first digital camera in 2001, I would venture out and search for the most creative shots I could find. Using various tips and techniques that I had read about, I would try creative angles one day. Then the next outing would creatively use monochrome shots or some other techniques after that, and so on. I would then race home, plug in the SD card and boot up the photo software in anticipation, while expecting something mesmerizing and unique to return. It very rarely returned unique or mesmerizing. The average return was about 20 out of 100 images taken. Thank goodness digital photography is cheap! Yet somehow, someway, I was hooked enough to go out there and try again.

Over the past twenty-three years, my attitude has changed- hmm…about twenty-three times. These days I am less concerned about creativity than I am documenting travels, events, and my life around me.

📸

Nowadays, I am shooting less portrait photography, which honestly, is the only time I want to be creative. I miss both creativity and people!

So, if I focus more on documentation and less creativity, the attitude, and equipment has changed to match. I no longer own a mixture of mirrorless and DSLR cameras with about five lenses for each one just in case. I don’t have to worry if I forgot to pack the telephoto lens, just because I might use it. Now I can be content with bringing one camera and one all-purpose lens if I choose to.

Recently, technology has been a big factor in these decisions as well. Photo equipment with amazing advances inside, the minimal size and weight of these things to assist in you lightening your kit and allowing me to relax and enjoy.

Did I just spot a tender moment on the street? Snap. Ahh, a new mural to document—Snap. This is out of place and would be interesting to capture— Snap.

Now I am getting into documenting everything in photos. I’ve found I can simply relax and walk away from a photowalk knowing there are some keepers on that SD card, instead of forcing myself to shoot something that may not be there only to walk away frustrated.

Another bonus- I’ve come to realize that all of this has been documenting and creating not only a visual daily journal, but also a complete body of work to be proud of.

Breaking In The Ricoh

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I took the new Ricoh GR out for a walk yesterday to see how it performs under harsh lighting conditions. The images are just as sharp and vibrant as expected. But ugh, the scenery and subject matter is still the same so not really chuffed about them. 

I crave something new and interesting to capture. I’m done documenting Tulsa. 

Standard color mode and high contrast B&W mode

Breaking In The Ricoh

by

I took the new Ricoh GR out for a walk yesterday to see how it performs under harsh lighting conditions. The images are just as sharp and vibrant as expected. But ugh, the scenery and subject matter is still the same so not really chuffed about them.

I crave something new and interesting to capture. I’m done documenting Tulsa.

Standard color mode and high contrast B&W mode

Document > Create

by

In the early years of my photography hobby, I would venture out and search for the most creative shots I could find. Using various tips and techniques that I had read about, I would try creative angles one day. Then the next outing would creatively use monochrome shots or some other techniques after that, and so on.

I would then send the 36-exposure roll off to the developing lab and eagerly await the prints while expecting something mesmerizing and unique to return. It very rarely returned unique or mesmerizing. The average return on film investment was about 2 images out of a 36-exposure stock. Expensive! Yet somehow, someway, I was hooked enough to go out there and try again.

When I acquired my first digital camera in 2001, I would venture out and search for the most creative shots I could find. Using various tips and techniques that I had read about, I would try creative angles one day. Then the next outing would creatively use monochrome shots or some other techniques after that, and so on. I would then race home, plug in the SD card and boot up the photo software in anticipation, while expecting something mesmerizing and unique to return. It very rarely returned unique or mesmerizing. The average return was about 20 out of 100 images taken. Thank goodness digital photography is cheap! Yet somehow, someway, I was hooked enough to go out there and try again.

Over the past twenty-three years, my attitude has changed- hmm…about twenty-three times. These days I am less concerned about creativity than I am documenting travels, events, and my life around me.

📸
Nowadays, I am shooting less portrait photography, which honestly, is the only time I want to be creative. I miss both creativity and people!

So, if I focus more on documentation and less creativity, the attitude, and equipment has changed to match. I no longer own a mixture of mirrorless and DSLR cameras with about five lenses for each one just in case. I don’t have to worry if I forgot to pack the telephoto lens, just because I might use it. Now I can be content with bringing one camera and one all-purpose lens if I choose to.

Recently, technology has been a big factor in these decisions as well. Photo equipment with amazing advances inside, the minimal size and weight of these things to assist in you lightening your kit and allowing me to relax and enjoy.

Did I just spot a tender moment on the street? Snap. Ahh, a new mural to document—Snap. This is out of place and would be interesting to capture— Snap.

Now I am getting into documenting everything in photos. I’ve found I can simply relax and walk away from a photowalk knowing there are some keepers on that SD card, instead of forcing myself to shoot something that may not be there only to walk away frustrated.

Another bonus- I’ve come to realize that all of this has been documenting and creating not only a visual daily journal, but also a complete body of work to be proud of.

The “La Flor Dominicana” Factory Tour

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Hello and thanks for subscribing to the newsletter!

Because of recent news of events on the island of Hispaniola, I’ve recalled a lot of memories from a few years ago when I was invited to photograph, document and serve the ongoing Christian missionary works based in Santiago de los Caballeros, Dominican Republic. Towards the end of the trip, I had an opportunity to head north to the Caribbean coastal town of Sosua for some R&R, but in-between the two cities were mountain jungles and tobacco plantations.

Welcome to the jungle

Our gracious host and founder of the mission insisted we stopped for a cigar factory tour, and of course, this was accepted!

The La Flor factory tour follows the path of the tobacco leaves from the fields to the packaging of handmade cigars. The first thing I noticed, was the aromatic tobacco in enclosed spaces. Then I noticed, but was not allowed to photograph, the floor announcer. His job is to simply read the newspaper and magazine articles into the factory microphone to entertain the workers. Imagine a news barker with a derby cap, smoking La Flor’s finest with outstretched arms holding up the paper and talking through his cigar into the microphone.

I was then allowed to select from a stack of conditioned, classified, browned, aged leaves and then hand them off to the smiling worker. She then began the long process of turning a leaf into a freshly rolled cigar.

I followed my leaves around the various stages from station to station, watching and photographing workers as they blended, bunched, pressed, rolled, sealed and then allowed me to slide the La Flor Dominica ring around my fresh cigars. The entire process took about an hour to craft my box of the Caribbean’s finest.

Uninformed individuals would say that Cuban cigars are the best, I disagree. Cubans are only sought after because they are illegal in the USA, and I think they smell and taste like Castro’s dead feet. My clandestine incursion onto Cuban shores is a story for next time.

Oh, and because Haiti and the Dominican Republic are neighbors and both currently in the news, here is a young Haitian toddler playing in the road, on the Dominican side apparently abandoned, shortly before I snapped this photo. There are strong racial tensions between these two countries, and I found this to be the only fault I could find on the Dominican side of Hispaniola. I was blessed to see the missionaries find him shelter and food. Just look at that handsome face.

Until next week, – Chris

Ricoh GR

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I know, I know. I can hear you bringing this up to me when I said “new year, no new gear.” After weeks of waiting, I finally have a new camera in my hands. I said goodbye to my fantastic but bulky Nikon D90 DSLR and lenses and traded all of those for this compact but powerful single-lens camera. See? It is a used camera and an even trade so that really doesn’t break the “no new gear” rule I set for myself now does it?

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The idea here is to minimize my load and workflow and I think I am there, finally.

Yes, it is an older, used camera but still younger than the Nikon. Sure, there are newer models of the Ricoh GR but those are currently $1k and I just don’t think it is worth it, so here was the compromise. In my mind, this is currently the best bang-for-the-buck digital camera for street photography. I love the compact size, the superb image quality and high-ISO performance, as well as the ergonomics and handling. Looking forward to putting it through the paces soon.

The big things worth noting in the Ricoh GR:

  • 16MP APS-C sensor (a DSLR-sized crop sensor in a compact camera)
  • 28mm f/2.8 lens
  • Ability to change from 28mm to “35mm crop mode”
  • No anti-aliasing filter (sharp images)
  • Solid magnesium alloy body underneath

The iPhone 15 Pro Max is still going to be my always-carry camera of course, and I still have a gifted-to-me Canon DSLR system in reserve as well. The other cameras in the arsenal are all analog film.

I usually take photos of urban landscapes, and street portraits, so this compact, but brilliant Ricoh GR is going to be perfect.

Photo Archive Site

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This new website has been designated as a repository for a small set of images to be stored online instead of an expensive third-party photo hosting site (see ya, Flickr!). The actual photo archives are numbered to almost 50,000 images, so only a select few are chosen to be represented on this site. While you are there, take a look around inside the archives!

This is an extension to my main portfolio website that can be clicked here or in the nav bar up top.

I have not yet begun to upload images to this photo archive site and will do so throughout the next week. Okay, maybe one or two of my favorite subject: