Nothing to report. Just a little behind-the-scenes of my first field day in what feels like years. One of my local friends said, “You haven’t fished all summer.” So, just to shut him up I made one cast at a small mountain lake. I had to do something to justify the expense of the license. This directionless vlog covers my one day working on my New Mexico project, a long-running, never-to-be-finished masterpiece that I continue to work on in a desperate attempt to retain some sort of photographic skill.
As you will see, I’ve given up on the people part until some future, more opportunistic date, and have now come to grips with the idea I’m a wildlife photographer.
A horrifying fact I will never be comfortable with. I did get out. That is the important part. I walked, talked to myself, made a few frames, and managed to avoid the pit toilet, for which I feel fortunate. I’m not happy with my little field camera performance, especially the sound, so that will be remedied at some point. What did not disappoint was the birds. I love adding this element to my project because the degree of difficulty is extremely high. And difficult in a way that is different from the difficulty of photographing people. I have so much to learn, and being forced to learn is one of the ways that feed my appetite for progress. And yes, I still have my Fuji system. Good grief.
Comments 16
Snot rocket bahahah. Hey now, nothing wrong with wildlife photography lol. That’s all I do or landscapes. I’m no good at portraits ha!! But I’m not good to begin with but that’s OK, too. Thats why we practice! 12 people that get the book?! Well you said I’m lucky number seven so the 7th one is mine, I called it. Cracked me up about the cowboy hat and driving him back to the state line. The journal looks good as always, you did good with the sketching.
Author
I’m still a people guy at heart. Short lens. Close. But this is a fun, new adventure.
Danielsan,
The last time…Most don’t know…They sold off incredible amounts of “public” land…If it happens again…You’ll (sadly) probably have to go back to photographing “people.”
Author
Remember Zinke and Pruitt. It will be that times ten. They have already put it in writing. So many of my hunt/fish friends are brainwashed, right wingers who are going to vote directly against their best interest. And they will somehow blame someone else like they did in 2016. Same for ranching friends who tried to blame Obama for Trumps tariffs. So bizarre.
Sounds like you need a break…
You’re stretched pretty thin and have been for a long time.
Perhaps its time to scale back a little and not go in as many directions. Then, when you’ve had some time to focus on what is truly important, you might be able to add on those things that were perhaps a little less of a priority. In doing so you’re not neglecting anything you want to do; you’re just setting them aside for a little while so you can catch your breath. And when you return to those things you that were set aside you can give them the time they deserve rather than just trying to cram them in.
Author
Me? I feel great. Better than I have in years, even with back/neck issues. I can’t imagine scaling back. Too many interests. As it stands with a modern job, there won’t be a time that allows for anything slow. Not unless I somehow convince the powers that be to create a new position where all I do is ONE thing. And that won’t happen.
Wow… I totally misread that one. I thought you were lamenting not having fished in a while. Should have known better… 🙂
Author
Ohh..believe me, I’d love to be fishing more. But in the overall scheme, it’s kinda par for the course.
It’s befuddling to say the least, and likely not worth the mental energy trying to figure out why so many “outdoorsmen” continue to vote against themselves. It’s like me trying to figure out Seattle metro area traffic.
I processed 4 rolls this week, and buttoned up a silly Packard shutter/process lens assembly.
I’m trying to keep at it as best I can
Seattle traffic is easy. Just add 30 minutes to your travel time and have the text message apology for being late ready to send when you’re running late anyway…
Author
Or just cancel and call in sick….
Author
It’s called “radicalization.” We allowed it to happen over the past few decades, and now it has its teeth fully sunk into the fleshy part of our society.
I wonder if Pruitt’s soundproofed airgapped totally private phone booth office still exists at the EPA and what it’s used for now?
Author
I am amazed at how many of my Trump friends claim they don’t remember him, or Zinke. Heck, most can’t name anyone in his cabinet. And even asking them sets them off on some conspiracy, or as one family member does, just immediately says ‘Hunter Biden’s laptop!”
Daniel, it isn’t just a US problem: Britain and much of western Europe have both been sleepwalking into a state where the brainwashed voters will consistently vote against their own interests. Worse, they have – in Britain, at least – allowed a state of affairs to arise where to say what you believe can land you in court on charges that would once have appeared, and rightly so, as totally absurd. Freedom of speech? In your dreams of yesteryear. (Meanwhile, back in the States, the idea of a President beyond the law is no longer just a joke.)
The left-wing parties have tacitly supported unsustainable immigration simply because of the fact that those who found themselves in that unfortunate condition almost always voted for socialist governments when they managed to get themselves into a legal status; those left behind at home, and currently trying their luck on tiny boats will do the same, if they survive and hack the system. The various diasporas are growing beasts and nobody has a handle on just what the numbers may be; successive governments have openly admitted they have no idea even how many legal visitors never used the return half of their ticket. Meanwhile, the social pressures grow and the safety valve blows in street violence, with the same younger guys who voted left now creating mayhem, damaging innocent property yet blaming the Conservative right! The irony absolutely escapes them. Would a Conservative government act differently! Of course not – it wants those same left-votes to convert! For both wings, the courage to act firmly – if it ever existed – is shelved in the interests of making as few waves as possible and holding on to power and those obscene pensions.
The western European lifeboat is tiny; if one allows unrestricted boarding, that lifeboat will vanish beneath the ocean. This has nothing to do with either racism or colour prejudice: it has everything to do with maths and the immutable laws of supply and demand. Our public health and pension schemes are on the brink of meltdown; we draw out more than we have ever put in. As an old man, I am only too personally aware of how much of a drag on scarce resources that I and a growing number of fellow ancients have become. Will it come to compulsory euthanasia in some not too distant future scenario?
Author
When it comes to immigration, there are no parties here in the US. There are two sides who have no idea what to do, who lie about each other repeatedly hoping to inspire the base. We now have “DJ VanDemand,” or whatever Trump calls him, spouting some very, very dangerous rhetoric about “them,” and “they,” and how “they” are after your lives, and your children and your jobs, and “they” attempted to kill Trump, which is total nonsense cause it turns out the shooter was a right winger. Oops. This might explain why Trump looks like he’s done. He looks deflated, defeated, subdued and grasping at hate as his only reprieve. JP VanHammel is a lunatic who knows his only chance is to instigate a takeover. Just another pseudo-Christian nut bag who will say anything to anyone pandering for vote. So lame.