Category Archives: Fuji X100S

On The Road: Colorado

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A short but spectacular trip.

prairie scene. electrical lines and fence posts. monte vista, Colorado

Prairie scene near Monte Vista, CO.

two women in salida, colorado. legs and brick wall.

Street scene in Salida, CO.

seven kayaks against brick wall in salida, colorado.

Kayak motif in Salida.

woman kayaking at lake vallecito. Vallecito, colorado.

Kayaking at Vallecito Reservoir.

Kayaking Vallecito Reservoir. Photographer's point of view. Red kayak.

Kayaking Vallecito Reservoir. Photographer’s point of view.

Chickens in their coop. Vallecito, Colorado.

Chickens in their coop. Vallecito, Colorado.

railroad worker with hardhat in durango, colorado. narrow gauge.

Working on the railroad. Narrow gauge, Durango to Silverton, Colorado.

durango, colorado. woman in train station window on a rainy afternoon.

Having fun in Durango at the Silverton to Durango narrow gauge railroad station.

jeremy wade shockley and his wife Rachel at Durango's very own speakeasy, Bookcase & Barber

Enjoying a drink at Durango’s Bookcase & Barber. A modern day speakeasy.

jeremy wade shockley at open shutter gallery.

Photojournalist Jeremy Wade Shockley at his show in the Red Room
at The Open Shutter Gallery in Durango. Sadly, his was one of the last.
The venerable Open Shutter is closing down.

historic rochester hotel. downtown durango, colorado

One of the oldest hotels in Durango. The historic Rochester at dusk.

 

Pop-up Flash Trick

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Did you know that with nothing more than your pop-up flash, a soup spoon and the back of an 8×10 photo you can make a pretty decent softbox-like product shot?

It’s true. Here’s how: First, you’ll need to put the flash on manual and crank it up to quarter or half or full power depending on all your other settings (I’ll leave it to you to figure all that out, as each situation may be different).

Next, place the spoon in front of your pop-up flash and angle it in such a way as to redirect the light backwards onto the backside of an 8×10 photo which itself is angled to re-redirect that light forward onto your product. It takes a little practice to get the angles correct, but when you’re in a pinch it’s worth the effort!

Here’s an example:

Pop-up flash technique with spoon and white 8X10 paper.

Portrait of a Fuji X100S using the pop-up flash, spoon and 8×10 print technique.

Pop-up flash technique with spoon and white 8X10 paper.

Straight pop-up flash.

 

And here’s an example of the set up:

Michael Kircher taking a picture of a fuji X100S.

Primitive, but effective!

Give it a go and feel free to share your results. Happy shooting!

-MK

 

Marin County

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If all goes accordingly (and doesn’t it always?) Marin County in Northern California will be my final resting place. OK, that sounds kind of morbid… let’s say rather that my wife and I would love to die there! Uh… wait… what I mean is we hope Northern California is where we’ll live out our days. You know, retire. Or something like that.

“Retire” is such an ugly word, though, isn’t it? Maybe “repurpose” is what I want. Rachel and I hope to one day repurpose ourselves in Northern California. Yeah, that’s better.

So why Northern California? Well…

Did this artist find her spot or what!

Did this artist find herself a spot or what!

The No Name Bar at night.

Bar. Yes, that’s the actual name. Bar. It’s old and gritty and has no kitchen; but you can bring in a burger
from down the street if you like. Like a 1967 VW it sits among the Rolls Royce establishments of Sausalito.
No frills, no food, no name. It’s almost perfect.

posted about this fellow earlier this year. His name is Matt Jaffe. Super cool.

I posted about this fellow earlier this year. (do a search) His name is Matt Jaffe. A troubadour; storyteller.
The Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley hosts big names and locals.
We happened upon this open mic night and it was pure fun.

Found this motif in the patio of a great place in Bolinas. The Coast Cafe. Had fried oyster benedict for breakfast. I will never forget it. (I mean that in a good way!)

I could not pass up this nautical motif in the back patio of a joint in Bolinas. The Coast Cafe.
Had fried oyster benedict for breakfast. I will never forget it. (And I mean that in a good way!)

For a different view at sunset, drive down to Fort Baker on the east side of the GG Bridge. Less crowds and unique view.

The sky changes by the second this time of the evening. Magentas and violets fight for supremacy. Darkness wins, ultimately.

Redwoods in Mill Valley. Majestic is an over-used word... but really, that's what these are.

Majestic is an over-used descriptor… but really, that’s what they are. Mill Valley Redwoods.

Howard was his name. As you might guess, totally laid back and groovy.

Howard. As you might guess, totally laid back and groovy.

Surfers show off their shit at Rodeo Beach.

This dude at Rodeo Beach had some stuff going on. Dancing across the waves like some manic ballerino.

A city nestled in the fog. San Francisco viewed from Mt. Tamlapais.

San Francisco viewed from Mt. Tamlapais; a city nestled in the fog.

 

There is no better place to goof off in the evening than Stinson Beach.

The interplay of light and shadows at Stinson Beach.

 

A sunset not to be missed. Stinson Beach.

The warm sunset of a cool evening.

 

Northern California. Works for us.

Matt Jaffe, Open Mic Night at the Sweetwater Music Hall & Cafe

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Open Mic Night at the Sweetwater Music Hall in Mill Valley, CA.

Quite a turn out. Good music, bad music. Quirky characters, serious artists. Young and old. Lots of regulars and locals on stage and in the audience.

Then there was this kid.

Matt Jaffe at the Sweetwater Music Hall open mic night. Mill Valley, CA.

Matt Jaffe at the Sweetwater Music Hall open mic night. Mill Valley, CA.

He’s Matt Jaffe. An impressive young rocker who is kind of a cross between Elvis Costello and Brian Setzer. His two song set really stood out. It would not surprise me at all if you were to hear from him in the near future.

Kiko

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This is Kiko. The oldest male orang-utan (“Person of the Forest”) at the National Zoo in DC.

Male orang-utans have a home range of approximately 11 sq miles. They can travel up to two miles a day in search of food in the rainforests of Sumatra and Borneo. Habitat destruction and — of course — hunting by humans are the main threats to their survival.

I have a great ambivalence towards zoos. I am equally fascinated and troubled by them. As I was watching this fellow stare out at us from his enclosure I admit a deep sadness began to wash over me. He is an amazing creature and I could sit there all day just watching and observing his behavior… even occasionally try to make eye contact with him. But ultimately I couldn’t get past the fact that he’s in a zoo… in Washington DC.

Far from “home.”

Kiko. Adult male orangutan at the National Zoo.

Safe from poachers, but far from free.