On the trail Sunday afternoon with The Girl, I noticed this BLM marker for the trail we were on. I like the contrast, so I made the capture. Captured with X-Pro3, 2026-02-15 12:43:59, 27mm, 1/1900sec, f/8, ISO-640, in-camera Monochrome-R film simulation, SOOC.
I am having some fun learning the Fujifilm X-Pro3. I decided to mount the Fujinon 27mm f/2.8 pancake on the body and carry it for a few outings. I have the second generation model that has an aperture ring. (It is absolutely necessary for my style of shooting.) The small size of the lens makes for a very small package. I like it.
It is a decent lens. It might not have the character of some of my other glass, but the form factor sort of makes up for that.
On the trail, I noticed this BLM trail marker. I wanted to do something with it, so here it is. Enjoy.
This was something, once. Captured with X-Pro3, 2026-01-28 11:57:38, 23mm, 1/640sec, f/8, ISO-640, Classic Chrome film simulation, in camera.
I am in a busy season, once again. But I still carry a camera daily. An image does not always present itself, or I am not paying sufficient attention to see the image presented.
Walkies through the sagebrush out at Silver Saddle Ranch sometimes provides an interesting image. This pile of boards, while presenting a hazard for doggo with respect to exposed nails (and later the possibility of a rattlesnake hide), was something, once. It might have been a door or gate. Or maybe a platform for some other purpose. There was clearly a structure in the area by virtue of other ruins. But I do not know what it was.
In any event, the area provided some fodder for a daily image.
I photographed this survey marker before. While playing with the Fuji X-Pro3, I decided it could use another look. Captured with X-Pro3, 2026-01-25 12:20:53, 35mm, 1/8000sec, f/2.8, ISO-400, Acros film recipe (PhotoLab 7).
This marker has been on the top of this post for several years now. I have used it as a subject for an image a number of times, usually when testing a camera, lens, or a film stock. So, when hiking through the Silver Saddle Ranch compound, I noticed it once again while playing with the Fuji X-Pro3 and a Fujinon 35mm f/2 lens combination.
The background for this capture is usually interesting, particularly as the seasons change. The cottonwoods provide an interesting out of focus palette of tones in both black and white and color renderings.
So, I like to make a capture of this subject when playing with a camera, or a lens, or a film stock (which includes simulations).
On another topic, I have my guitars back in shape. I retrieved my classical Thursday, after a fret rework. I will be working on finding the right string set for that guitar; one that will provide a nice tonal complement to the cedar top and be more comfortable for me to play.
I will enjoy working with it this year and, hopefully, for a few more years to come.
A bit of Mormon Tea against an out of focus view of Carson City and Mount McLellan. Captured with X-Pro3, 2026-01-26 14:25:43, 16mm, 1/8000sec, f/2.8, ISO-640, Acros-R film simulation (in-camera), SOOC.
Last week, I had The Girl outdoors for walkies/hiking at Silver Saddle Ranch, our favorite Winter haunt. The days are extraordinarily warm for now and so hiking is pleasant without the Winter Bite. We do need more snow, though.
I rented a Fujifilm X-Pro3 body from (a href=”https://lensrentals.com”>Lensrentals a couple of weeks ago and have been putting the camera through its paces. It has a relatively low shutter count (about 15K actuations) and the body is pretty clean, I would say very good with only a little paint lost here and there and a mark on the bottom plate from tripod use or something else. The hybrid optical viewfinder is interesting and I can see why the rangefinder-style body is so popular, especially with street shooters. I am liking what I see and this camera is probably good for a lot of my daily carry outings where I do not need to extra size of the X-T5 for larger lenses or the in-body stabilization for low-light.
I have been in something of a photographic rut, needing some inspiration or a photographic ass-kicking to restart my observational skills. So, I elected to mount a lens I do not often use, the Fujinon 16mm f/2.8 that is in my inventory. I tend to have a telephoto eye, so do not usually use a wide-angle lens. So, I thought mounting one might shake up my vision a little.
Well, it did make me look at things a little differently. I am really enjoying the in-camera Acros and Monochrome film simulations, and am playing with the Classic Chrome simulation as well. I have not programmed any of the film recipes into this camera. I will play with those Fuji provided for awhile first.
I noticed the juxtaposition of the Mormon Tea against the McLellan backdrop, so I open up the aperture to put the background somewhat out of focus, framed the shot, and made the capture. I rather like the contrast of the in- and out-of-focus areas. I did not post processing of the image other than resizing.
It was a good day in the field. I am having a lot of good days in the field. I love hiking with The Girl. I am grateful. Life is good.
These remnants of trees are not natural in the sagelands. Nearby are the remains of a structure that has long been collapsed and slowly absorbing into the desert. Both deserve a memory. Captured with X-Pro3, 2026-01-27 12:01:27, 16mm, 1/750sec, f/8, ISO-640, Acros-R film simulation (in-camera), SOOC.
After watching Tatiana Hopper’s YT video about a Japanese photographer’s philosophical approach to photography, I have been thinking about beginner’s mind. I have not photographed everything there is to photograph when hiking with The Girl at Silver Saddle Ranch. I have, however, fallen into a rut of not seeing things other than those I have made images of before.
I decided to put a different lens on my rental Fujifilm X-Pro3 and selected the Fujinon 16mm f/2.8 for the exercise. This is a significantly wide angle lens (angle of acceptance approximating a 24mm on a 35mm frame — don’t get me started!) and quite different from what I usually use. I do not see frame lines in the OVF of the camera, so I [ahem] assume that the view in the OVF *is* what the camera will capture. I suppose I should test this with a swap to the EVF and will do that. But, my [ahem] assumption seems to work well enough.
I also used the Q Menu to set the in-camera film simulation to Acros-R (Acros film with a red filter) because I like to darken the sky a bit. The impact on scenes without sky is not very pronounced.
We also changed up our track. There are numerous side trails that connect the upper access road to the sand pit with the two-track that connects the ranch compound to Mexican Ditch. These side trails add distance and relief to the hike. They will not be usable for us in the warm months for the risk of rattlesnakes, but in the cool months they provide much needed resistance to work the old man.
They also provide different perspectives on the ranch. Add this to my general increase in awareness in practicing beginner’s mind as we hike.
I came across this triplet of downed trees. They must have been planted here decades ago. There is also the ruin of a structure not far from this location. So, I suspect they were part of whatever that was. In any event, they provided me with an interesting subject and something different from my normal captures when hiking with The Girl.
I have a few more that I will share. I was grateful for the change of mind, the change of perspective from using a different lens than usual, and for spending time outdoors with The Girl. Life is good.
Hmmm… this part of the toolshed could certainly use some love. The desert Sun from the South is hard on whatever it shines on. Captured with X-Pro3, 2026-01-23 13:25:24, 35mm, 1/340sec, f/8, ISO-160, Classic Chrome film simulation (in-camera), SOOC.
It is no secret that The Girl and I hike the Silver Saddle Ranch open space area much of the winter. It is only a few minutes from our home, gives a rural feel without having to drive far, and is often without heavy traffic (foot or vehicular). If I stay in the sageland west from the ranch compound, there is an opportunity to have some relief in my path, which this old body needs to maintain strength.
I recently encountered an old man (well, another old man) hiking the area with his dog. I noticed he was taking some of the intermediate trails between the upper path and the old two-track that leads from the ranch compound to the Mexican Ditch. I like to avoid the ranch compound proper and the cinder trail that is part of the relatively new trail complex in the Carson River corridor. There is more traffic than I prefer and Doggo strains to interact with other dogs1. But, I took his idea and started hiking up and down the hill on the intermediate trails.
We have been taking this approach the last few days. I am noticing that I probably should take her down to the ditch once on our outing so she can cool off a little and get a drink. We are upstream from any of the mercury pollution, so there is little risk of her being poisoned by the water. So, I will amend our trail to get down by the ditch so she can water.
We were out later than usual one afternoon (just before school lets out) and the Sun was at a different angle than usual. I noticed the light on the old shed and the warped, sagging siding. I have been enjoying the Fuji X-Pro3 as a walkabout camera, had the Fujinon 35mm f/2 affixed to the body, and had the output set to the Classic Chrome film simulation. So, I made a few captures. I like this one.
We finished our hike and packed it in. It was a good day. Life is good.
1Although many times those interactions are fine and the dogs just play, if the other dog has any attitude, then a fight generally starts. Sera will be the dominant bitch. I also think she gets something from the kerfuffles besides being the dominant dog. She is scrappy. So, I prefer just to not deal with it.
I rented a Fujifilm X-Pro3 to play with. There is quite a lot of hubbub over the X-Pro Fujifilm cameras, mostly because of the hybrid optical viewfinder. So, I decided to find out what it is all about. Captured with NIKON D750, 2026-01-23 16:38:45, Vivitar Series 1 90mm macro, 1/15sec, f/5.6, ISO-6400, SOOC.
A few weeks ago (months?), my buddy was busting my chops a bit about my Fujifilm X100vi. He was giving me a hard time because I usually use an interchangeable lens camera and the X100 series is decidedly a fixed-lens camera. That is, it is not a system camera but “an expensive point-and-shoot.”
My argument is that sometimes I do not want to take a system with me; I want a camera at hand though. I do not want my camera work to be fiddly, though.
By fiddly, I mean that I do not want to have to make decisions about what lens to use in the field. I want to have a purpose-built machine (a camera and lens) that is more than my phone.
Aside: I decided the last couple-three years that I think computational photography is cool, but it has some limits as implemented in current mobile phone technology. Furthermore, I want to use my mobile phone less and I want a simpler (less expensive) mobile phone as well because I do not want to spend all of my time looking at my phone.
His pushback was that I could simply fit a prime lens to my (very nice) Fujifilm X-T5 and carry that. There is truth in that. But, I really like my X100vi. It has an elegance in its simplicity that is different from the other system cameras in Fujifilm’s stable. It has a bit of that classic rangefinder look that all the kids chase (and that made the X100v nearly impossible to buy because they were always out of stock).
The conversation made me think a little about my [ahem] rationalization to justify ownership of a X100vi. On my last roadtrip, I elected to take the X-T5 and a small kit along. I chose the Fujinon 18-55mm, f/2.8-4 kit zoom, the Fujinon 70-300mm zoom (in case I needed a telephoto lens), and the Fujinon 35mm f/1.4 (original standard prime). I found the kit zoom to be the lens I used most on that trip. It gave me a nice range of focal lengths that work in a lot of (most?) circumstances, is relatively small and light, and is optically better than almost all other kit lenses. (The exception likely being the classic nifty-fifties that came on film bodies.)
I was able to get some subject/background separation with the kit zoom, particularly at the long end of the zoom range. I had a fast standard lens in the kit if I wanted more. (I did use it a little, but consciously chose to stick with the zoom most of the time.)
All of this, spare batteries, and spare SD cards all fit into the Fujifilm/Domke collaboration messenger bag that I have in my inventory. There was even a little room for my computer glasses, my Kindle (in the back slash pocket), and a Clif bar (emergency ration). I could swap out the glasses/Kindle for a small water bottle if I wanted.
That made for the lightest, most powerful kit I have constructed to date. In retrospect, I did wish I had the Fujinon 60mm f/2.4 macro with me. There were a few times that the close-focusing capability of that lens and the slightly larger maximum aperture would have been used. But, I learned.
That brings me back to the Fujifilm X-Pro3 that is in a small kit. It is a rental camera. I checked the shutter count and it has 15K actuations according to Exiftool. It was made in 2021, also according to Exiftool. I rented it as an experiment and I really like the camera.
It is similar to the X100vi and probably more similar to the X100v that preceded my X100vi. I think that the underlying sensor technology and processor are the same as the X100v. The viewfinder is slightly different because The X-Pro3 has to accommodate the interchangeable lenses. In the hybrid OVF, the frame lines change with the focal length of the lens. It is usable from pretty wide (18mm is the widest I have used to date) through 50mm. With a press of a small lever, I can switch to the EVF, which uses the sensor instead of the optical viewfinder and use lenses outside the effective range of the OVF for composition.
I also love the sound of the mechanical shutter in the X-Pro3. It has the same solid thunk of my original Fujifilm camera, the X-T1.
Would it replace my X100vi? No, I think not. It is last-generation technology and the primary reason I bought the X100vi is to have a simple, rangefinder-style camera *with* the fifth-generation IBIS. I really do not care about pixel count (there was a significant bump in that specification) as much as the image stabilization.
I could have a similar experience and aesthetic with a silver/chrome X-Pro3 and one of Fujifilm’s small primes (what I call the f/2 line). But again, none of those lenses have OIS. It adds bulk (and cost). However, I would give up the IBIS that I find useful in some of my shooting situations.
There are rumors that Fujifilm is preparing to release an updated X-Pro camera this year. It will have either the fifth generation X-Trans sensor (and IBIS) or there will be a sixth generation system released.
That is my analysis of how an X-Pro Series camera could fit into what I do with photography. One could supplant the X100vi if, and only if, the next generation adds IBIS. That will probably make the X-Pro camera slightly larger (to accommodate the mechanism), which is not a deal killer. I like the hybrid OVF. It works. The X-Pro also has an EVF with the press of a lever for focal lengths that do not work with the OVF. It has that classic rangefinder look that I have come to like.
I will continue to enjoy my X-Pro3 rental. I will have a it a few more days. I remain on the fence about whether or not I will keep it.
The Girl and I will hike with it again today. I am looking forward to that. I remain grateful on a daily basis. Life is good.
The Chronoswiss Tora is a chronograph/GMT combination that just works for me.Captured with X-T5, 2026-01-19 20:25:11, 60mm, 1/90sec, f/2.8, ISO-6400, SOOC.
My watch pusher buddy sent me a text message last week about a chronograph he picked up that he thought might interest me. It is a Chronoswiss Tora chronograph with GMT and date complications. Both complications are interesting because they are on subregisters on the dial. The GMT has a separate pusher for setting.
I am a sucker for chronographs and GMTs are a suitable object of lust. So, of course, I nibbled and then got bit.
It is not a new watch. It does not look like a new watch, although it is in very nice condition. The latched band will not work for my small wrist, so that will need an adjustment. I will send it for service so it starts out fresh in my small collection. I suspect it will supplant my Speedmaster for daily wear, except when I am doing anything relatively heavy with my hands that might damage it. I have a G-Shock for those days.
This looks like an engineer’s watch.
At coffee yesterday, my buddy attempted to loosen the screw-down bars to remove the band, but, no joy. It appears they are affixed with a heavy thread lock. This is another reason to send it to a watchmaker for service. I believe it is also a chronometer, so regulation will bring it back into chronometer specification. I am fine with a few seconds per day. I could always use a cheap quartz watch. But, I love machines and the precision of a mechanical watch does something for me.
I am doing better after a really down day on Wife’s anniversary. The weather here is very nice — cool in the morning (20s F) and warm in the afternoon (50F plus or minus), and the Sun is shining.
This diner might be the best diner food in town. Captured with X-T5, 2026-01-19 15:25:24, 35mm, 1/52sec, f/2.8, ISO-320, Fujifilm ACROS film simulation, SOOC.
Thirteen-years ago, Wife died. As I have written and likely will write again, it was the end of a drawn-out process that might have produced a different result, but did not. The following couple of years were very difficult for me and I wrote quite a lot about that as well, both here in my corner of the Internet and in my journal.
It got better — I got better. But I will never, truly be over it. My buddy Jim told me that …it will always suck… Jim is also now gone, but his memory and his words last.
I woke this morning with a heaviness that only increased over morning coffee as I realized that today marks 13 years. I felt that familiar emotion rise while I made my coffee and admit that I shed a few tears.
I dealt with a meeting that was scheduled, then sat at my desk using Signal to message my kids and a friend. After a little more time passed, I decided I was hungry and I wanted to get The Girl out for a hike.
So I fed her and gave her the morning meds, then packed us into the rig and drove over to Betsy’s Big Kitchen. I decided to try some French toast to see if it will spike my blood sugar. It tasted really good and I kept aside a bit for The Girl.
We headed out to Silver Saddle Ranch. There were more walkers/hikers than expected. But it was noon on a gorgeous Winter day, so I should not be surprised. I discovered that I left the transmitter for her control collar at home, so she walked on-lead. I visited with a ham buddy as we hiked.
It was a good visit and between my friend and being outdoors with The Girl, some of the heaviness left.
I had a coffee date scheduled with another buddy for late afternoon, so I took a few minutes after returning home to stretch out with The Girl and listen to some music. I recently gave up on my classic iPod experiment and bought a DAP. I am in the process of provisioning it and learning to use it. I can boost the high frequencies enough that I can listen with cans and without hearing aids. It is more comfortable without the hearing aids.
Coffee with my buddy was good. We chatted about watches, as usual.
It was a good day, even if my mood was not really into it. I remember, Old Girl. You are still missed and will be until my time comes.
Mount McLellan north from Carson City from our favorite winter hike. Captured with X100VI, 2026-01-07 12:26:31, 23mm, 1/6400sec, f/8, ISO-2500, in-camera Tri-X Film Recipe.
Between Thanksgiving and Christmas (and actually to about the New Year) I like to play some holiday-themed music. One of my main go-to selections is the Windham Hill collections called A Winter’s Solstice. There are six collections in that series, most of them completed when Windham Hill was independent.
This year, when I got into my Apple Music application, I found these recordings missing. I was shocked and still do not know how that happened. It upset me sufficiently that I abandoned the idea of celebrating in music. I was busy and the CDs are in a box in the garage somewhere. I was not going to go track them down and re-rip them.
I got to thinking about this early this morning and did a little research to determine how to transfer the recordings from my old iPhone (they were still on it) to my Mac. I found a piece of software (paid) that will actually copy them directly into Music and preserve the tags and album art. It was worth the price of admission so I paid for a year’s subscription.
This saved me a bit of work. I plan on listening to these recordings over the next or so and pick up my missed celebration in music.
Although I was a bit disconcerted by this train of events, I remain grateful. Life is good.
