I made this capture long ago when I lived on the South High Plains. It was a nice view. Captured with NIKON D100, 2004-05-26 20:20:10, 60mm, 1/250sec, f/8, ISO-200, processed in PhotoLab7.
The capture is from my archive and was made about 20-years ago, when I lived on the South High Plains. We were out and about for one reason or another and noticed a big thunderstorm developing in the distance, just at sunset. I paused and got out the D100 and a tripod, as I recall. We stood by the highway and just watched the light change.
The experience was stunning. We could see lightning crawling over the clouds and the setting Sun provided such wonderful light.
On our way home from the east, we camped near Monticello, UT. This was our late afternoon view. Captured with X-T5, 2025-11-15 18:25:28, 18mm, 1/750sec, f/8, ISO-250, in-camera Kodachrome 64 film simulation, processed in PhotoLab7.
On our way home from the east, we camped near Monticello, Utah. Our campsite was in the National Forest just a couple miles west from Monticello and off the main highway. I (carefully) drove down an old logging road about 150 yards until I found this spot. I had to stack a few rocks to get the camper level, but that is nothing new.
The campsite was clearly used by other campers. I noticed after setting up camp some left-over deer parts, presumably from a recent hunting expedition by locals.
It would not have made me change locations because all of the potentially stinky bits were already consumed by the local wildlife.
After setting up camp, I got The Girl out of the rig and we hiked a bit out of camp. I noticed her pick up a stick and then noticed it was actually a deer leg. Ha! She reluctantly left it behind. It was during our hike I noticed where two or three gut-piles had been and realized that the site was recently used as a hunting camp.
I kept her close in even though she wanted to range out. The brush was thick enough that it would be easy to loose sight of her. I was also a little concerned that weather was blowing in. I had listened to the local NOAA Weather Radio channel on the way in and there was a chance for rain in the evening. The way the wind was blowing made me think the forecast was probably correct.
I paused on the way back to camp to make the image. I was intrigued by the convergence of the contrails and how the sky interacted with the branches.
After a bit of roaming about from camp, I decided I was hungry and figured she was probably hungry, too. We headed back to camp before the Sun fell behind the mountain to the west. I got the grill out and cooked a sausage I had in the refrigerator. I had a packet of pre-cooked rice and a can of Ranch Beans, so I had a feast.
Supper made, we settled in for the evening, listening to the wind blow through the pines. The gunfire died down as the Sun fell — some locals were plinking with a .22 some distance away. And, as evening came on I heard a chorus of coyotes singing much closer than the gunfire. That gave me some concern for care for when I got The Girl out for her evening constitutional.
I heard rain on and off all night. The wind occasionally rocked the camper a bit and continued to sing in the trees. I stepped outside a couple of times to empty my bladder and could see it had showered a little, but the ground was not muddy and the sky was clear.
We slept well that night. It was quiet at camp. We woke to gray skies and the threat of rain. I made a coffee, listened to the NOAA Wx station, and considered the day. We broke camp early so I could get off the logging road should the rain come. I doubt the 4Runner would have problems with a little mud, but decided to move anyway.
We did hit rain on the way to Moab. It was not heavy, but a steady light rain. It would have been snow had it been a little colder.
I made this capture many years ago when we lived in Lubbock. Captured with NIKON D100, 2006-05-26 19:39:57, 400mm, 1/4000sec, f/20, ISO-1600, SOOC.
This is an old image from my archive. I do not remember the specifics, although I have a vague recollection of the day. I think Wife and I drove out of town a little, expecting a sunset. I had the D100 at hand and a couple of lenses. I think it was one of those dusty West Texas spring days. Boy howdy, we had some dusty days in Lubbock.
This seems like a lifetime ago, and it is nearly 20 years. I had no idea what was in front of us, and me. A few months after making this capture, I was on my way west to Nevada. My family followed soon after.
That is the nature of life — it is dynamic, always changing; it is not static.
This was a good memory and I came away that evening with a few nice captures. Although it is now ancient history, the D100 made some good images.
Sunday afternoon Tatiana Hopper posted a video essay on choosing one camera and sticking with it for a long enough period of time to really understand how to use it.
There is actually quite a lot about her thesis that I like. Maybe I can explain that a little.
A couple of years ago I bought a Fujifilm X100V. It was an upgrade to my earlier model, an X100S. The upgrade had better handling of film simulation recipes, which is something that I enjoy. That was my primary reason for that upgrade.
I then found that there is something liberating about carrying a rangefinder-type camera with a fixed lens. My X100V had the wonderful Fujinon 23mm f/2 lens that was quite capable of making excellent images even if limited to that single focal length. What this did is force me to see with that focal length in mind. The slightly wide angle perspective forced me to get closer to the subject. I neither worried about switching lenses nor carried extra lenses.
I am guilty of carrying too much gear. My camera bags are usually too heavy because I carry too many lenses. Therefore, as I planned a long roadtrip for October and November, I purposefully (or intentionally) decided to take the Fuji X-T5, the Fujinon 18-55mm kit lens, the Fujinon 70-300mm zoom, and the 35mm f/2 for a fast normal. I also took some extra SD cards, batteries, and a charger. All of that fit into the Fujifilm/Domke partner X-Series camera bag.
I actually used the 18-55mm f/2.8-5 kit zoom most of the time. I found I did not need the extra reach (this trip) and the kit lens was fast enough to do what I wanted done. I did use the 35mm f/2 a few times, but then switched to the 18-55mm.
I came home with a collection of interesting images. A few of them are actually good.
The simpler carry had the advantage of less confusion about what to use. I had a lens for normal shots that offered a decent, and usable, zoom range. I had one with reach. I had a normal lens if that was needed. It turns out that neither the reach nor the normal lens were needed. That kit served me surprisingly well. It carried easy.
I recently watched a couple more videos about being an intentional photographer. I actually already am. I eschew the spray and pray approach with my digital cameras, just as I did with my film cameras (and still do). I will share at least one of those videos in another essay leave it said that I carried a Nikon FM2n last week with a normal lens affixed to it and a roll of Ilford XP2 in the body (black and white C41 process film). I paused on our walkies to make an image now and again, just one or two frames.
I learned that my FM2n needs a service, so it will be sent to my technician this week. In the meantime, the Nikon F2 will be carried, this time with a Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 lens and a roll of Kodak Gold 200. Once that roll is finished, I will send both in for processing and scanning.
There is much to be said for slowing down and being more intentional about photography. The truth is that there is much to be gained by slowing down and being more intentional about everything. But, that is a topic for another essay.
I am grateful, especially this time of year. You are missed, Old Girl. Life is good.
