I call them hookbills or Hook Bills although I do not know what they are called. I just enjoyed watching them work for their supper.Captured with X-T5, 2026-04-23 21:58:45, 420mm, 1/1800sec, f/8, ISO-1600, light processing with PhotoLab 7.
Part of the show at Pismo Beach was a few of these birds. I do not know what they are called, but I call them “Hook Bills”, for an obvious reason. They were working the surf right at the leading edge, probing for a bit of supper. I watched them follow the water out as the wave retreated, using that bill to search a few centimeters into the sand.
Eventually, each came up with a bit of food. Again, I could not identify what it was that they were eating, but they were definitely finding supper.
They provided me with some late afternoon entertainment… and a few good frames.
It was a good day. Life is good.
I watched these birds work the surf, looking for supper. They all got lucky once in a while. Captured with X-T5, 2026-04-23 22:07:38, 420mm, 1/2400sec, f/8, ISO-1600, light processing with PhotoLab 7.
I saw several fishermen working the surf. I did not see much caught. But, like this young woman, they were all as serious as the hookbills. I think the Hook Bills did better, though. However, I think I am the real winner, though. Captured with X-T5, 2026-04-23 22:01:57, 420mm, 1/1600sec, f/8, ISO-1600, light processing with PhotoLab 7.
I really enjoyed the show after I finished my POTA activation at Pismo Beach. Once the station was recovered and stowed, The Girl and I had a big play. She loved running around sniffing at the piles of seaweed on the shore. Sometimes she found something to eat (yuck) and was told to drop it. Sometimes she dropped it, sometimes she darted off to munch whatever it was before I could catch her.
She ran at me and bit at my boots, which caused me to dance around and then play grab ass. We ran down to the edge of the sea and she pattered about the water, but stayed clear of the incoming surf.
After a few minutes of play, we returned to the rig. I then turned it around to face west, into the Sun. I retrieved my X-T5 from the bag and affixed the 70-300mm tele-zoom and the 1.4x teleconverter to the camera. We spent the next couple of hours before sunset watching the show.
There were three fishermen working the surf. The young woman was part of a pair that were fishing to my left (south) and the light presented them well. She was the closer of the two and was turned facing into the Sun such that her face was illuminated. Her focus captured my attention, so I made a few images of her as she worked.
People working at something always fascinate me. The better they are at the work, the more interesting the become. So it was with this young woman.
I did not see any fish taken from the sea on this outing. That does not mean none were taken; just that I did not see any caught.
I continued to work the scene until the Sun fell far enough behind the cloud bank on the horizon to take the light. That was between 1930–2000h and I started to get hungry. So, we packed it in and headed into town for me to get some supper and then to our room, where The Girl got hers. Yes, she did get a bit of my halibut on my return to the rig. I almost always pay the dog tax.
It was a good day. I remain grateful, because life is good.
I had a few hours after the site walk, so I decided to take in Pismo Beach. Captured with X-T5, 2026-04-23 22:37:31, 16mm, 1/900sec, f/8, ISO-1600, light processing with PhotoLab 7.
To the best of my recollection, it has been more than 50 years since I last set foot on Pismo Beach. The time was the mid-1970s and my Dad’s dad had terminal throat cancer. We decided to go see the west coast family and see grandpa off.
It was in late March, so we decided to take the south route. We had friends at Los Alamos, so we spent one night there visiting Frank and Christy. Then we headed on to the LA Basin to visit Pat and Beth, then turn north. We spent a couple of days with them, before turning north to see family for a few more days. There are many stories from our short stay with our old friends, but not for now.
On our way north, we stopped for a few minutes at Pismo Beach. There I made a capture with Dad’s Argus C3 (the brick) on Kodachrome. My composition was so awful because I did not notice the “No Parking” sign right in the middle of the frame. The sunset was gorgeous, but ruined by the sign.
We paused there for a few minutes to listen to the surf, before heading on to our hotel for the night.
Thursday, after completing the day’s work, I found myself with a few hours. I booked two nights at the hotel, expecting that we would not finish early enough to make the trip home. So, after a short nap, The Girl and I headed to the beach to spend a few hours. I wanted to activate the park (ATNO) and had a small camera kit built around the Fujifilm X-T5. I paid the permit fee, asked the young man working the entry about best places, and received direction to find a place clear of people. Heh…
This time I drove on the beach. We motored along the way to the south until I found an area that others decided was unacceptable. I deployed my station and wondered how I would hear over the sound of wind and surf. Fortunately, I found a set of earbuds in the radio kit (sometimes I am actually smart) and stowed the hearing aids.
With the station setup, I started hunting POTA activators on the 20m band. I worked a few of them using both phone and code, then picked a frequency, spotted myself, and started calling to announce my availability to take calls. I worked the radio for about an hour, logging plenty of contacts to make the activation, and then turned off the radio. I just sat there for a few minutes, listening and watching the surf, the birds picking at the sand, and the passersby.
After a few minutes, I recovered the station and got The Girl out of the rig. There was no one close, so we played grab ass off-lead for a while. She did the attack-the-boots thing she sometimes does, and we had a great time. She hunted the piles of seaweed for things to eat while I chased her off of them, not particularly caring for the thought of kisses later.
With her energy burned off, I turned the rig around to face the surf and retrieved my camera bag. There were two lenses to use in that kit — the Fujinon 16-55mm f/2.8 zoom and the 70-300mm slow zoom. But, I also had the Fujinon 1.4TC in the kit, which really extended the reach of the telephoto lens.
So I spent the next couple of hours watching the Sun set, making images of the birds hunting for nibbles in the surf, watching a pair of surf fishers working the waves, and watching others pass through my field of view. I also spent some time remembering the stop there with Wife so many years ago. I think she would love the place again, waiting patiently while I played radio and then photographer while reading her book and enjoying the place.
Yeah, that would be what she did. Then we would have gone into town for some supper and talk. Yes, she is still missed.
Doggo and I recently celebrated our sixth anniversary together. Well, she enjoyed the celebration even if the time does not mean much to her. That means Sera is between seven- and eight-years old. I do mark the time.
As the Sun set, we headed back into town. I drove to The Quarterdeck, a small restaurant near the hotel. It is a little dated, but the food is pretty good. I had blackened halibut and a margarita. I even saved a bit for The Girl, who quickly munched it when I returned to the rig. Then we called it a night.
I saw many interesting things during my few hours at Pismo Beach. This pair of equestrians were just one of them. Captured with X-T5, 2026-04-23 22:23:51, 16mm, 1/2700sec, f/8, ISO-1600, light processing with PhotoLab 7.
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.
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.
While The Girl and I were hiking, I noticed the skyline. Captured with X-T5, 2025-10-16 16:47:04, 35mm, 1/640sec, f/8, ISO-250, in-camera Tri-X Film Simulation, SOOC.
Typically, we think of a skyline in terms of a city. However, while hiking The Girl near our campsite in Utah, I noticed this vista. With one eye on her, I made a few captures and like this one the most.
There are a few more frames from this overnight stop that are worth sharing. I will work through them over the remainder of the year.
The Sun set not long after I made this capture. By that time, we had completed our short hike and returned to the camper. I set about making some supper and taking care of my girl. Then I enjoyed my supper and a beer and we settled in for the night. I was tired and had a lot more miles to make before arriving in Missouri.
A hint of a Utah hoodoo, near my camp on my way east back in October. Captured with X-T5, 2025-10-16 16:46:39, 35mm, 1/1100sec, f/8, ISO-250, in-camera Tri-X film simulation, SOOC.
Back in October, I headed east to see Older Grandson married and to spend time with my children. My second night out, we pulled off I-70 to find a campsite for the night. About a half-mile off the highway there was a pullout on the trail. It made sense to reverse the rig to put the door on the trail side, so I did and spent the few minutes required to setup the camper.
Then I got The Girl out of the 4Runner, checked to see that the group of feral horses were far enough away to not be a significant temptation, and we started a short hike to look around. I learned that the trail was washed out by recent rains so the risk of nighttime traffic was low. I also found these rounded rock outcrops that made me think of Goblin State Park, which I visited another time a decade ago.
The hike done, I fed us and we settled in for the night. Both of us slept well.
It was a good trip, if exceptionally busy. I am so grateful for a safe trip and the time spent with my children. Life is good.
This capture is from a test roll with the Nikon FM2n and a Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 lens, on Ilford XP-2. This is one of the few leaves left on this old willow tree.
A few weeks ago I carried the Nikon FM2n that sat on the shelf for several years. Long ago, my photographer connection, errr buddy, pushed this camera on me from his inventory. He indicated that it was a suitable object of lust for film photographers and I considered it a back up for some of my other film cameras.
Time moves on and I find myself connected to Nikon cameras at this point in my life. Well, connected to Nikon film cameras (and dSLRs). All of these use the ancient Nikon F-mount, so all of my legacy glass is useful.
I have not looked at any of the new Nikon Z cameras. I am so heavily invested in Fujifilm that I am not sure I want to change systems. I certainly do not want to buy a new set of lenses for what I do with my Fujifilm cameras.
But, I digress. While hiking with The Girl one afternoon, we crossed the Mexican Ditch at one of the irrigation structures (where we often cross) and I paused for a moment to see if anything caught my eye. I noticed this solitary willow leaf, clinging to the branches of a winter-sleeping willow. So I paused, checked the framing, adjusted the exposure to suit myself, and made the capture. I also made a few more captures, before we headed off to finish our hike and return home.
The negative scans were uploaded to the processor’s website last weekend. I am still working through them, looking for frames that recreate the emotion I felt when looking at the scene. This one will do for today.
I sure enjoy hiking with The Girl, as challenging as she can be. Sometimes I also find an interesting scene. I am grateful.
