12:00 am

2022-01-01 17:07:05

Changing My Attitude

2022-01-01 17:57:29

Is it possible to be happy where you feel like you are stuck? Regardless of where we are, I do believe it is possible to be happy. Personally, I am bitter towards living in a small city that is land-locked and in a flyover state during a pandemic. Yes, there is always going to be a better city or country that have a better climate or opportunities, but what can we do with what we have? Personally, I’ve discovered that once I’ve found the perfect place, I am still not satisfied because there is so much more for me to explore.

After traveling extensively, I realize I want to do it more. But what of it isn’t possible during a pandemic or lockdowns? We make do with what we have, but you have to work at it. If what you want there doesn’t exist, try to improve it yourself.

From the master of micro-adventures:

“I thought that I had been paying close attention to my local area through years of micro-adventures. Then I committed to spending a year exploring only the single local map that I live on (the big fold-out paper maps hikers use, covering an area of 20km x 20km). At first I worried that after years of global adventures — cycling around the world, rowing the Atlantic, walking across southern India etc. — my one small, suburban patch outside London would be agonisingly claustrophobic, boring and limiting. But I was wrong! I have discovered places I never knew existed, and been astonished at the wildness, beauty (ugliness, too) and history I have discovered. If you find somewhere new within a few miles of home then you are exploring the world just as much as someone trekking across the Empty Quarter Desert in Arabia…”

Alastair Humphreys

Well said. Inspirational even.

Your mental and physical health is crucial in all of this. It’s time to keep your brain and your body fit. Get out and have a walk and a think. I’ll be embracing naps a lot this winter as well.

I said all that to say this: if you can’t change your latitude, then your attitude needs to change. This is easier said than done, but I am going to give it a helluva try.

Digital Photo Contact Sheet

2022-01-01 18:07:06

Ever notice how the Photos app resembles a film negative contact sheet? I am amazed with the viewing experience from the iPad/iPhone/Mac and all the information that is built into it. My workflow is simple: Take images with the iPhone, let them sync to the cloud and they are visible on any device you want to view or edit. I can also shoot images on my digital camera, load the SD card into the reader, insert reader into my device and transfer there for post-processing.

Why do I prefer the iPad to do this with? First, the experience of viewing, choosing, and editing your photos on an iPad is much more fun and interactive than just seeing them on your laptop. I can take my digital photo lab with me everywhere. And seeing my photos on a brilliant screen is more intimate for me. I am able to hold my digital images in my hand and interact with them, flag, post-process, and even sketch the composition.

To speed up my photo processing workflow, I will first look at all my images taken as large thumbnails (just like an old analog film contact sheet.) Neat.

2022 Photography Goals

2022-01-01 22:01:36

2022 has arrived, and I have some ideas for my photography for the new year. Photographers are constantly looking for what’s new to shoot, new gear and new challenges for ourselves. So here goes.

Shoot with iPhone Less

Yes, it is the camera/phone I will always have on me and it would be so easy to just grab, go and shoot. But I want to shoot with intention this year. This means that Sonya will come out with me more frequently. Because film stock is now more expensive this year (thanks a lot Kodak), I ordered 20 rolls of 35 and 110 mm film ahead of time. Shooting film and digital can be a more rewarding aesthetic than just quick iPhone snaps.

If I am being honest, the iPhone will still come out to play. Just less. I didn’t upgrade to the 13 Max Pro cameras for nothing!

Delete Social Media

Forget Instagram, forget Flickr, forget SmugMug, etc. etc. This is a new year and a new opportunity to build your own photography portfolio website like mine. This way you have more control over what and how you want your work to be displayed. Adobe Lightroom subscribers can use the additional Portfolio platform at no extra cost. Host your photos on WordPress or Micro.blog.

One Camera & One Lens

This should be an easy one for me since the new Sony camera, Sonya, was so expensive. She comes with one 28-70mm lens, and it’ll be a long time before I decide to get another lens in addition. This camera will have to become a part of me. I am still learning how to navigate through all the menu options, but what better way to learn than by doing? Now is the time for me to learn and practice with one focal length and master it. Then I can move on to the next one.

Photo Books or Zines

Based on the type of photography topics you prefer, you can print photo albums or books. For me, digital photo zines are ideal. Inexpensive to make and widely distributed to anyone on the planet with internet connectivity.

Black/White Or Color?

Back when I shot color photography, now and then I’d challenge myself to change the aesthetic by switching it up. “Black & White Appreciation Month” was fairly frequent, so much so that now I prefer B&W. Change your genre as well for those happy surprises. You just might like it.

Peak Minimalism

2022-01-01 23:00:21

I am so close to my minimalistic and materialistic goals that I need to start thinking of what more I can do with the freedom from clutter.

So, I’ll focus on the basics of what keeps me going: photography, writing, journaling, geocaching, walking, fitness, nutrition, creating art, thinking, philosophy, looking for more ways I can reduce my clutter, and anything else I want to do.

On Blogging

2022-01-02 16:42:28

After twenty years of putting my thoughts online, I still feel like I don’t know what I am doing. Occasionally, it even feels like imposter syndrome, like I don’t belong. But then I think, “Who am I writing for?” Easy answer is myself and sometimes great people come along and join me.

Taking a quote from another author and a blogger:

Blog posts can be edited, added to, improved upon. If you missed something, you can fix it.

Austin Kleon, Blogging As A Forgiving Medium, 2021

Kleon writes that blogging is a ‘forgiving medium’ because it can be therapeutic. Blogging can be rewarding by practicing and learning in public. Not one single person will know what changes I make to a post unless I call myself out with a correction or an update to that post. Unless you have a massive following who likes to keep track of those kinds of things- which I don’t have.

Learning by doing. The more you create, the more you learn. Learn by putting yourself out there and become a better writer.

Learn how to close out your thoughts and your blog post properly.

The title of this post is loosely taken from Stephen King’s book titled “On Writing.”

1/3/22

2022-01-03 21:54:20

First day back to work after the long weekend/new year. Mondays are always the worst but add all that up, plus onboarding and training two new hires remotely and I’m beat.

Day three of the keto diet and am experiencing the keto flu with a touch of nausea.

I miss the kid.

That’s it. That’s the post.

Unsubscribe

2022-01-04 22:16:43

A recent post from another blogger has me thinking: “How much am I paying for subscription services? Do I even know all the services I am paying and agreeing to on a monthly or yearly basis? How much money can I save if I take an honest look and assess my needs/wants?

Personally, I prefer using stock apps and services where I can, but sometimes, apps and services can be a real joy to use instead. I dislike subscriptions and prefer to pay for a service one-time, but here lately many developers or moving away from one time purchases and going to the subscription model to keep the money flowing in. I don’t mind supporting small, independent developers, but I prefer not to succumb to subscription creep either.

Honest assessment of apps/services:

1. Apple One- Too much good stuff here that I use frequently like Music, TV, 2 TB storage, Fitness+, Arcade and News. A bonus feature is the ability to share it with up to 5 family members who enjoy as well at no extra cost. $30mo.
2. Adobe Photography Plan- I’ve been using Adobe products for 15 years and hated it when they switched to subscription model. But they made it worthwhile. A lot of value here for $10 monthly. Plus, they host my photography website. Is it possible to do without it? Yes. I have made software purchases ahead of leaving Adobe, but…it’s a tough one. It stays for now.
3. Bear Notes- Could I use the stock Apple Notes instead? Yes. But Apple Notes is so damn ugly. Bear has all the features and design I want except the ability to collaborate with others. I just re-upped back in December, so it stays for another 11 months. $15 yearly.
4. DayOne- The best private journal app that I’ve been free using for 6 years. I just subscribed last month thanks to a generous Apple Store gift card. Is it worth $30 a year? That depends on my usage this year. Plus, they just got bought out by my current web host, WordPress, and promise to integrate somehow. TBD.
5. Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+ bundle- $20 monthly with a lot of entertainment value. ESPN, not so much. They keep all the big matches and F1 races off there. Hulu up-charges to avoid ads (a must). Today, I dropped those two and holding on to Disney for $7 a month. Will it last?
6. Feedbin- Consider it to be a podcast player, but for blogs, YouTube videos, newsletters and more. There are other feed readers out there for a hell of a lot less but FeedBin checks all the right boxes, and it has been great, but $50 a year with no software improvements? Why? Subscription ends in February.
7. Fantastical- Do I need a calendar app for $40 a year? When I thought it could help me organize and block out times for my personal life and connect to my company’s email Outlook Exchange, yes. Only to discover my company blocks access to third-party apps for security. Damn. Will not renew in favor of Apple stock calendar app. In December.
8. Geocaching- A worldwide treasure hunt using GPS coordinates and a fun way to get out and explore. Worth the $50 annually for me.
9. Micro.blog- A new-to-me platform for hosting blogs. Simple, easy, with amazing community support and direct access to the developer. Will it pull me away from WordPress? Time will tell. $5 or $10 monthly based on desired features.
10. MindNode- a tool that helps me parse my thoughts with visual diagrams. I’ve been using it to help plot my novels and short stories. I grabbed it again because it was available thanks to an Apple gift card. $20 a year. Then again, pen and paper works just as well.
11. Ulysses- One of the best software tools around for writers. I’m typing this article on it now and will send it to my website via Ulysses automagically. $50 annually versus the one time paid app I also have called iA Writer. Subscription renewed in November. Status is: we’ll see.
12. VSCO- A remarkable phone camera app that offers a lot of vintage film emulations with strong community support and even a webpage to host your images. $20 annually.
13. WordPress- My website host for the past 19 years. They’ve been outstanding but lately quite proud of their offerings and the subscription costs jump as a result. This is why I’ve been looking at Micro.blog as an alternative. $80 annually
    

Well, that escalated quickly. There may be some subscriptions I have forgotten about that will be a surprise when I get the bill. But those will be addressed accordingly. As a result of this analysis, I’m taking a look at services, value, costs, and alternatives. I’m off to go unsubscribe to a few things and when the renewal notices pop up I’ll reconsider everything.

Social Anxiety

2022-01-06 23:33:39

There are a lot of people out there who are re-thinking their social media use and I think this is a good idea. It’s taken a long time but the realization that prolonged exposure to these platforms are not good for your mental health.

I got out a few years ago, because of the stupidity of it all. There is nothing of value there unless there are legitimate, supportive conversations. You know, dialogue as opposed to ”Look at me and my best life!” Well even if we wanted to see you at your best life we couldn’t thanks to the manipulation of the data and the way it is presented to you. And you’ll be hard pressed to even see that because of the pervasive, irrelevant advertisements.. No thank you.

So I am glad to read that attitudes are changing and people can slowly start to recover their IQs and have the ability to hold actual conversations in real settings. I’ll touch on this more because I have a lot to say and not enough energy to articulate at the moment.

Web 1.0

2022-01-07 13:50:08

Social media, those platforms that grew under what we call Web 2.0, is dead to me. There is a reason why blogging, RSS feeds, e-mail, podcasting, and texting has stuck around for so long- they work. We have control. We interact with people we genuinely care about. We take our attention back.

I am thrilled to see like-minded individuals building on their own land in blogville as opposed to sharecropping on Zuck’s territories.

Photography 2022

2022-01-09 10:05:09

If I stop to think about it, and I have, I realized that my passion for photography goes back exactly forty years. Damn. It all started when I received a Kodak Disc camera as a gift back in 1982. This thing was so easy to use that a child could do it. Pop the disc in, snap, take to the one-hour photo booth, buy more discs when you are there and then enjoy the prints. Well, then the Minolta disc came along shortly after and wow, my first upgrade. This thing had a handle that you could also prop up to use as a stand and a tiny mirror in the front. So let’s all blame Minolta for the selfie trend starting back in the early eighties. My high school had a photography class complete with dark room and print lab. Loved it until it was time to play football. Thereafter, it's been a few point and shoot cameras until 2001 when I bought my first digital camera. So yeah, you can say I’ve enjoyed photography for quite a while. So, why stick it out this long?

As much as photography has been a part of my life I still feel like a poser or a wannabe although I’ve been published in books, magazines, websites, sold my work, organized and hosted two photography conferences in two major cities, owned my own business, and participated in two art shows. I do have some laments:

• No prints on the wall
• No photo books on the shelf
• No decent organization to the archives
• What’s the point of all these photos if they are buried in a hard drive?
  

These will all change this year starting with the Archives. Organized by years, finally, I’ll need to go back in and cull the duplicates and delete the undesired photos. Then, add geotags, face recognition, and keywords for better sorting and search. Then and only then can I begin to think of hanging prints or publishing photo books.

My photography means a lot to me and now it is time to completely enjoy it.

Stick With It

2022-01-09 22:12:40

This post is a reminder to me and/or anyone else who can glean something from it. I find my interests go through a lot of ebb and flow, and occasionally this can be discouraging. However, I also find myself returning to some of those interests and that is encouraging.

You are an artist

How is it that people, especially photographers, don’t refer to themselves as artists? If you can pick up a pencil, a paintbrush, a camera, a musical instrument, etc. you’re in the club. Get over the imposter syndrome and just create for yourself. If other people enjoy it as well, then bonus. Success, legitimacy and “likes” are for those seeking attention.

Take Risks

There will always be a knowledge gap, challenges, risks, and even fear. Use all of that to take advantage of opportunities to create.

Delete Your Social Media Accounts

Remember those “likes” that I referred to previously? Ditch 'em. Your creativity is not beholden to others scrolling through their feeds.

Gear Doesn’t Matter

Use what you can, master it. Then consider upgrading.

Share Your Knowledge

Pass on what you have learned rather than hoarding it. Knowledge is beneficial for everyone.

Stick With It

I mentioned before that I’ve been shooting for forty years and I still haven’t figured it out. The moment I stop believing that is the moment I’ve lost the point. I want to continue to explore and create, and I have a long way to go.

Stay Curious My Friends

The desire to keep practicing is to keep learning and wanting more. There will always be more. This is the best reason to stick with it and create.

Maximum Effort

2022-01-10 21:30:50

Airplane Mode - Switch on for limited distractions

Bust A Move - Stand up, walk around at least twice an hour. Get the blood flowing, oxygen in your lungs and clear your head.

No News Is Good News - Blissfully ignorant since 2016.

No Social Media- Blissfully ignorant of the ignorance.

Nutrition- Take out the sugar, fake sugar, bad fats and carbs.

Walk With Intention- Many problems solved with a good walk.

Workouts- Daily. Alternate and change them up to keep it fresh.

Things To Do In 2022

2022-01-11 19:53:49

Because we are constantly striving to improve all aspects of our life, here are some more areas we could all work on, starting with me.

1. Reclaim your time and attention
2. The year you finally decide to get fit
3. Time to tackle the other “F” word - finances.
4. You can do anything, not everything
5. Tender-loving self-care (TLC)
6. Better sleep and more naps
7. Fill up that journal
8. More writing
9. Return to nature
10. A good playlist
11. Read, then read some more
12. Install the Geocaching app and go explore for treasure
13. Redefine success
14. This time you are going to do something about it
15. Take a hike
16. More cooking, less dining out
17. Work on the posture, stretch, breathe, save your eyes from the screens
18. Delete your social media
19. Enjoy a healthy social life
20. Cancel most of your subscriptions

The World Is Your Museum

2022-01-11 21:58:16

I recently picked up the book titled ”The Art Of Noticing” by Rob Walker and even subscribed to his newsletter for even more updates and examples. The idea being to be aware of your surroundings, to go out, explore and think. Here is one of the recent examples titled ”The World Is Your Museum.”

No-Go On The Crypto

2022-01-13 13:25:23

After recently investing in cryptocurrency, I’ve looked at the markets and the charts and decided to cash out. I invested a few hundred dollars and have a net loss of $4.17. I wanted to see what the hype was about only to find out that it was just that- hype. I was on the fence about keeping some coin in but received email from the broker that profits are low due to [insert geopolitical excuse here.] Well that was what cryptocurrency was alleged to prevent- outside influences. Supply and demand was the rule, now we see it isn’t so. If you don’t get in on the ground floor then chances are, you missed opportunities. But that is what market speculation is. It was a fun experience but I’m out.

I’ve also shuttered my NFT photo collection auctions as there was little traffic or interest. Again with the hype. Unless you have a massive following online ( I don’t anymore,) than you’ll see little interest.

Once again, the promises of something new, better, decentralized and hyped out of proportion are undone by greed, scams and government regulations. It was fun.

Can’t Get No Satisfaction

2022-01-13 19:46:35

Photographers are always unsatisfied. If this wasn’t true, then why would we still venture out to seek something unique or capture something with our own perspective?

Intrigue

2022-01-13 19:51:43

Something I’ve been wanting to do lately is creating intriguing or compelling photographs. The not-so-obvious images that is designed to make people think. A simple scene that tells a story but leaves the viewer wondering. I have some ideas but not the means of executing them at the moment. Work in progress.

The Apple Polishing Cloth

2022-01-13 20:35:59

It’s a cloth. With an Apple logo on it. It cleans Apple devices. I paid $20 for it. Although I must say, it IS better than your average microfiber polishing cloth. Announced in October of last year, it finally became available.

Conserve & Protect

2022-01-13 21:05:28

“Over the coming century, the most vital human resource in need of conservation and protection is likely to be our own consciousness and mental space.

Tim Wu

See

2022-01-14 07:54:33

It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.

Henry David Thoreau

Photography Workflow Using the iPad Pro M1

2022-01-16 11:02:42

I had first published this guide in early 2019 in an effort to simplify my post-process photography workflow using the 2018 iPad. After decades of desktop and laptop processing, I wondered if the iPad was a solution for me.

Previous year articles from 2021 and 2019

Can the iPad replace the laptop for my photography post-process?

So much has changed since then that I have continued the series and decided to write a new post about it. The evolution in gear, software, and process has been a fun process to look back on and wonder how we managed to get anything done at all. But where there is a will, there are many ways. I will cover what my photography workflow looks like, but ultimately, everyone needs to choose what’s right for them. Workflows are personal and modified as needed. This topic seems to be a crowd favorite because each year these posts receive a lot of traffic and attention (thank you!)

A few months after that last post, I upgraded to the 12.9” Apple iPad M1 (5th Gen) and fine-tuned my workflow. Now, I also upgraded the laptop to the 2021 MacBook Pro M1, and it is no slouch. However, the photo workflow is different, limiting and feels almost antiquated. For now, the MacBook is a tool for me to curate my digital photo archives using Adobe Lightroom Classic, and that’s it. Here are some of the ways an iPad is more beneficial to me:

Multi-input workflow

Photography is a hands-on experience, and it is a joy to continue this on the iPad. Much like using your hands to develop your film negatives, so too are your fingers, the keyboard, and the Apple Pencil for finer control. Using a mouse to manipulate images is too impersonal for me now.

Storage

Thanks to the iPad and cloud services, there is an easier, more secure way to store images you’ve taken. This allows me to focus more on what I want to do (photography), rather than moving files around. I have 2 TB of iCloud storage waiting to receive my image uploads from either my camera or the iPhone. There is another 20 GB of storage in the Adobe cloud. Current images I am shooting are uploaded, stored and easily accessible on any of my devices.

My data transfer and storage needs to be effortless, to the point I don’t have to think about it. I mentioned the MacBook and my archives previously- that’s the only time I want to think about storage. I do organize images on the hard drive and then migrate them into the Archives stored on the 10 TB external hard drive.

Performance

The iPad has been granted a full-time job from me. It is the most powerful, fastest, and more interactive device I own. The ability to handle images in RAW format while asking for more work to do is remarkable to me. Battery life is spectacular, although it has a massive screen. Speaking of that massive screen, nothing makes me happier than reviewing my photos on such a beautiful screen. Much like the analog contact sheets, I can sort through quickly and determine which are the keepers and which get tossed into the digital bin. That M1 chip really knows how to process faster and distribute power evenly.

Mobile

Sure, the 12.9” iPad is large, and the magic keyboard that it magnetically attaches to adds weight. But it is still smaller and lighter than lugging a laptop with all the dongles, charger and cables around. Something else I am enjoying is the 5G connectivity. The ability to travel, make images, load them up into the cloud instantly is nothing short of brilliant. Want to check the forecast for the next day’s shooting? Care to watch that video tutorial of local street photographers while you travel? Start post-processing your images and have them secured until you get back home? Publish your work while on the go? It is all possible with that iPad.

Hardware & Software

Below is what I minimally use to produce a maximum photography workflow.

1. Apple 12.9” iPad Pro (5th gen) – My mobile photo lab.
2. Apple Pencil – Precision editing tool
3. CharJen Mini stick- A USB-C adapter with SD card port, charging port
4. Apple Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro – All in one keyboard & cover
5. Apple Photos – Store, review, edit.
6. Adobe Lightroom – for photo post-processing, organization
7. iCloud – for backup and syncing across devices using Photos app
8. Adobe Creative Cloud – for backup and syncing across devices in Lightroom
   

Extra Tools In The Darkroom

Capture tools include Sony A7III, iPhone, iPad Pro and a collection of analog film cameras. Post-processing labs include Adobe Lightroom, Pixelmator Pro, VSCO and Hipstamatic. Portfolio and galleries that host the final images can be viewed at PhotoDenbow.com and ChrisDenbow.com

Conclusion

The iPad is a great workspace for editing your photos. It is my personal, mobile photo lab. I can process my images in bed or on a plane, or even in between photo shoots when I am out and about. This makes the iPad the perfect tool for my photography.

Keep Going

2022-01-18 13:22:44

I think I need to keep being creative, not to prove anything, but because it makes me happy to do it… I think trying to be creative, keeping busy, has a lot to do with keeping you alive.

Willie Nelson

It is difficult to ponder, but I’ve been thinking of a time in the future where I no longer own a smartphone. Even more difficult to think about, is no longer sharing my life on the World Wide Web. Granted, both of those scenarios are much further down the road, but they have been on my mind. The spark for those thoughts comes from having a presence on multiple platforms, thousands of followers, and then realizing that it matters not. There was a time when I did care to interact and share ideas with my network of friends, some were IRL, most were social media. It has presented me with numerous opportunities to meet physically, to share ideas and share some commonality out there.

A lot of us have worked out that social media is no longer relevant, but where do we go to have our voice heard, if that is still something we want? The feelings go toward, “If I don’t have an online outlet to plug into, do I even exist?” If so, what’s the point of writing if no one is around to read it?

Social media is dying, and this is a good thing. Social media has been dead to me for quite a while, and not soon enough. I’ve been around long enough to see countless changes, some good and mostly horrible. People look at me with amazement when I tell them, no, you cannot follow me on Facebook because I am not there. “I like your photos, what is your Insta?” “I don’t have an Instagram account, but here is my website” and they are all of a sudden disinterested. Am I left behind?

Before the social media platforms we only had SMS texts, e-mail and our self-hosted websites. All was well and good. But stop to think, if social media was so great, why do these trios of basic communication still exist? Because we have control over what we choose to send/receive. We have control over our websites. I vowed a long time ago not to use tracking tools, or advertising. Who did I think I was anyway?

Good website owners write for themselves. However, being human, we do like some return on our efforts. Websites and blogs exist to be read. I write for myself to remember, to learn and to grow. Sometimes people join me and I am grateful. If I were to shutter this website tomorrow, would anyone notice? I would, and after twenty+ years of self-publishing I’ll keep doing this, probably for another twenty years.

Not for you, but for me. Thanks for reading and sticking with me.

108 Exposures

2022-01-18 20:10:42

Finally received my Lomography 35 and 110mm film and I am ready to test these out. I have never shot 800 speed and I am looking forward to the colors and contrasts.

Anti-Boring

2022-01-18 20:00:56

One of my goals this year is to create images that leave viewers guessing. Or, if nothing else, makes them think. I still haven’t had a chance to work on it but I will. For me, the aesthetic leans towards not just black and white, but heavily contrasted black and white highlights.There is always something to shoot, even the mundane, so why not spice up the mundane?

This can include different lighting and understanding how light/shadows work with your subject.

Abstract

Daily Life

Mundane Made Interesting

‘Nawlins Neon

2022-01-22 11:39:21

A few captures from Rue Bourbon.

New Orleans Street Photography

2022-01-23 18:58:04

Travel Thoughts

2022-01-25 07:43:03

Travel has always made me reflective and last weekend was no different. I think of behaviors that need to change and to try something different.

1. What needs to be changed?
2. When will I say no to that unhealthy habit?
3. What can I start today?
4. What can I stop today?
5. What needs more reflection?

It’s always amazing to me how travel puts your life into perspective. Do more of this.

The Blog Is Best

2022-01-26 14:36:54

It is widely accepted that the first blog, or web log, was created twenty-five years ago. A lot has changed over the years, but of course, the blog is still the best way to express yourself on the World Wide Web.

Forget Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and TikTok. You may build up a big following, but those platforms can make you and the content you created disappear. What do you have to show for it? Nothing. There is zero control. You may earn some kickback from these platforms, but you are still their slave working on their land.

Here, on your website, on your land, you are in charge. No censorship, no algorithms, no advertising and the ability to connect with genuine people.

The thoughts, photographs, art, music that you share on your website do not have metrics tied to them in an attempt to place value on them. When I post a photograph, I do it for me. I don’t need 1000 generic heart emojis inflating the ego. Thumbs-up emoji is worthless to me if you are scrolling a feed and approving other’s work as well.

The Blog

Much like electronic mail, and text messaging, the blog has been around longer than any other www platform. The blog is a pillar and a foundation for the internet as we know it. The blog is the penultimate method for publishing and sharing whatever you want. The barriers have been broken down, so everyone with a connection can create their own home page. There are paid and there are “free” options, you can post from a mobile device or a desktop computer. Share your words, videos, music and more instantaneously.

Set up your own home page as soon as possible, send me the hyperlink, so I can follow along if I want to. Build on your own land, then provide your hyperlink to others, then alert them that you are deleting your social media accounts. Happy blogging.

Palette

2022-01-26 19:56:40

Black, grey, silver, navy, blue and white for everything I own = perfect palette.

Up The Creek

2022-01-27 18:30:54

When you are a young person, you are like a young creek, and you meet many rocks, many obstacles and difficulties on your way. You hurry to get past these obstacles and get to the ocean. But as the creek moves down through the fields, it becomes larges and calmer and it can enjoy the reflection of the sky. It's wonderful. You will arrive at the sea anyway so enjoy the journey. Enjoy the sunshine, the sunset, the moon, the birds, the trees, and the many beauties along the way. Taste every moment of your daily life.

Thich Nhat Hanh

Take Five

2022-01-27 18:32:45

What is the most enjoyable five-minute stretch of your day? How could you lengthen it to ten minutes?

The 11-Month Journey in 2022

2022-01-27 21:20:48

It’s almost that time of year again! The 14th annual intent at creating life-long habits for myself (formerly known as Ground Hog Resolution Day). I’ve discovered that because of the after the end-of-year holidays, I am not mentally or physically capable of sticking with resolutions for the upcoming new year. (Truth be told, I was failing at this for the rest of the year too.) The idea was to take January as a break, so I could reflect and plan. And I have given a lot of consideration to dropping the Groundhog Resolutions altogether to come up with a more do-able plan.

I’ll be taking this year-long trek up to December 12th (12/12) and will stop and reflect on my progress each month until then. These will be known as monthly waypoints. A waypoint is a reference point that helps us know where we are and where we're going. Whether we are walking, driving, or navigating a journey to better yourself, waypoints help us find our way.

On 2/2 I will start at the trailhead of this journey to the first waypoint check-in on March 3rd (3/3). The next waypoints will be on 4/4, 5/5 to the end of the trail on December 12 (12/12.)

Since this will be a long trail, I need to pack light. The previous years have been weighed down and overburdened with too many goals and habits, and then failing at most of them. Time to lighten the load and focus on the essentials.

Nutrition & Training

This is priority one. I am not at my heaviest, but it feels like it. I feel it daily, and I don’t like it. This means I have to focus on my nutrition first. Eating out almost daily for lunch and then sitting at my desk during the workweek is hurting me. I’ll need a lot of help with this one. There are too many temptations out there for me. But I want and need to eat cleaner. This means I will be cutting out most sugar and hopping back on the Keto diet.

Next up is training. There are numerous activities I am interested in to help my goal of dropping those forty pounds. Health calculators project 24 months to safely lose 40 pounds. I’ll do my damndest to knock at least half of that off before journey’s end. Strength training will help burn off some fat and regain some muscle definition.

Let’s throw in some other issues like smoking and drinking. Once the tobacco runs out, I will clean out the pipe and store it. Alcohol intake has been limited, and I will do even more than that. Beer has carbs, and the keto diet hates carbs. Maybe some whiskey every two weeks at the pub will suffice. We all want some small vice, don’t we? I’ll start to wean off the diet soda, too. Enough is enough.

Yoga & Meditation

I have participated in a few group yoga practices, and it was lacking. I find yoga to be a personal endeavor as I try to relax and concentrate on what I am doing. A guru just gets in the way instead of guiding. I’ve subscribed to a fitness app that provides guidance and can be silenced as I work out.

On meditation, I have realized it can be done anywhere at anytime there is even a free minute. This makes me happy and gives me zero excuses to not focus and relax.

Photography & Writing

Here we go again- the annual intention to enjoy my hobbies properly. Regarding my two decades worth of unorganized images: progress. I will get the archives organized this year. Only then can I advance in what I really want to do with them. I intend to make memories by developing physical prints, books, and even zines. I’ve also switched up my genres to focus on landscape and urban photography. A lot to learn here this year.

Regarding my writing? It seems I enjoy writing about my intentions rather than just writing the damn things themselves. No more. I am hoping a clear mind and a healing body this year will assist in putting words down.

Journey Prep

I need to find ways to quantify and track these individual goals that makes sense to me, both analog and digital. This year, I am not adding or subtracting to these intentions. I am taking all of these on this year-long journey, and I am not leaving anything behind. I am positive, I am optimistic, and I want these changes, hell, I need these changes to happen.

I’m starting at the trail head on February 2nd and not stopping until December 12 with these goals accomplished.

The Journey Changes You

2022-01-28 07:04:33

Travel isn't always pretty. It isn't always comfortable.
Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But
that's OK. 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.

Anonymous

Write On

2022-01-29 09:24:32

This year I set myself the target of writing 100 posts for this website. This post makes up #35 and it is still January.

It is difficult to find the motivation to start when all of my ideas seem terrible all of a sudden. So I will keep reading, keep creating and maybe I’ll post something interesting along the way.

Geocaching Cleveland

2022-01-29 19:02:51

Let’s Take This Outside

2022-01-30 20:38:29

I’m coming out of a gorgeous winter weekend filled with disc golf and geocaching.

I’ve only played disc golf a few times but it is quickly becoming one of my favorites. I’ve been geocaching for over ten years and it just keeps getting better.

Radio Denbow

2022-01-31 21:10:47

Doing some exploratory research into buying some ham radio equipment as a fun hobby.

Or shall I do something more modern like a podcast?

Just for the hell of it. Who knows if it leads anywhere.