My old nemesis, rabbit brush, long past its affect on my fall allergies. Captured with Nikon F3hp and Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 at f/4 or so on Kodak Ektar 100, way expired. Color correction in PhotoLab 7.
When it blooms in the Fall, rabbitbrush and its yellow flowers ignites my allergies. This year, like some before it, my body’s response was strong enough that even my eyes responded. And that was over my regular dose of antihistamine. I was forced to use a second drug to reinforce the first for a few weeks.
But now that we have had some cold weather, the blooms are turned a duller yellow and no longer produce the pollen that causes my body to react. And with the background in the shadow of my mountain, I like the contrast. So, while The Girl sniffed, I made a couple of captures on film.
We continued are walk along our normal path, or some semblance thereof. Once the risk of Nope Ropes is reduced, we often bushwhack part of our way through the sagebrush. I do keep a sharp eye open for other hikers and for coyotes. I do not want a negative encounter with another dog and she has no need to engage with another coyote.
It was certainly a good afternoon hike with The Girl. It was a good day. Life is good.
It might not look red in this capture, but the flaking red paint is there. Captured with the Nikon F3hp and a Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 at either f/5.6 or f/8 on Kodak Ektar, then post-processed to black and white in PhotoLab 7.
Right after it arrived, I put a roll of (long expired) Kodak Ektar 100 in the F3 and set the ISO for 50 (one stop over exposed). The rule of thumb is that the colors will be off and the film less sensitive. So, I went with it.
I mounted a Nikkor 50mm f/1.4 AIS to the body, put a strap on it, and The Girl and I headed out for a hike. The hike was good and I made a few captures along the way.
Over the next few days I continued working through that 36-exposure roll. When it was finished, there were a few frames left on the roll in the F2. So It was carried a couple more days.
In the end, I sent three rolls of film to The Darkroom for processing. The scans were posted Saturday, so I downloaded them and began my review. One roll from the Nikon FM2n, one from the F2, and one from the new-to-me F3. There are actually a few frames in the lot that are keepers.
I selected the frame above to illustrate the results. It is a conversion from the Ektar roll that was done in PhotoLab. I continue to learn that tool.
I simply prefer film. Digital is so much more convenient and the technology so much better. But the analog look is what I prefer.
I like my Nikons and the Nikkor glass. I definitely like photography. Right now, as busy with other stuff as I am, it gives me a few minutes of respite from work to do something creative.
Here is another capture from my time in West Texas. It was from the same outing that produced the image of the Cumulonimbus cloud. Captured with NIKON D100, 2004-05-26 20:29:00, 200mm, 1/400sec, f/8, ISO-200, SOOC.
Besides the Spring (mostly) dust storms, the other spectacular weather event was the Summer thunderstorm. The Texas Panhandle is no stranger to extreme thunderstorms and they could be spectacular. My lovely BMW 330i had some hail dimples in it, like most Texas vehicles. If you live in Texas long enough, you will drive through a hailstorm.
While there I did not take sufficient advantage of the photographic opportunities that the storms presented. The frame from a few days ago and the preceding frame earlier are a couple of examples of when I did. On the same outing that gave me the cloud image, I was blessed with a gorgeous West Texas sunset. There are some tendrils of clouds kicked up by the oncoming storm visible in the frame. I noticed that interaction developing and waited for the right moment.
I was then blessed with this image. Wife and I stood there beside the highway taking it in. Then the Sun descended and a few minutes later the light disappeared from the cloud. So, we loaded back into the car and headed on towards home.
This is the season when I miss Wife the most. She loved the holidays so. I loved that part of her. I have been working through my digital image archive when I wake early. There are quite a few good frames in there and many that simply document family. I really need to develop (hah) a system for organizing and sorting those frames. Then there are the thousands (probably) of frames of physical prints and many of the source negatives in my closets. I do not have time to completely deal with those, but I want to.
Christmas comes and with it the celebration of the Christ Child. Alongside that joy is the somewhat sobering remembering of Wife. The two are intermingled in an inseparable fashion. That is OK.
While walking The Girl on a circuit around the campground, I noticed this frame and captured it. Captured with X-T5, 2025-11-09 10:23:36, 55mm, 1/220sec, f/8, ISO-500, in-camera Velvia film simulation, SOOC.
I paused to overnight at the Lake Texoma campground near Mead, OK on my way from Missouri to Texas. My youngest and his wife live near there, so a family meal was in order. We arrived late and I had to back into my camp in the dark, of course. But I learned that my handlight (EDC) worked well as an improved back-up light and permitted the alignment of the rig in the spot.
It did not take long to set up camp. Then I got The Girl out for a walk in the dark. She was on high alert for critters, of course. But, we found none.
That handled, we settled in for the night and I fed us. Then we slept.
I woke early, of course, made coffee, then walked over to the central facility to do my morning regimen, including a shower. When I returned, The Girl was ready to start her day, so we got out and walked the perimeter of the campground. A few others were stirring, some breaking camp; others enjoying the fall morning.
As we walked, I found a frame I liked. So I paused to make a capture. I rather like this one, if the colors are a little accentuated by the film stock selection.
We broke camp and then met Young Son and spouse for a meal before heading on to Lubbock and friends there.
The answer to the question posed is simple. I do not have the personal bandwidth necessary for radio operations at the moment. Work and personal obligations are sufficient that they use up my available resources. But, this will change and I will have an opportunity to go operate in the field. I will be ready for some POTA and SOTA activations and will enjoy those exercises.
Despite being busy, I remain grateful. Life is good.
I made several images in this old cemetery. This is one that I like. Captured with X-T5, 2025-10-26 12:38:59, 27mm, 1/550sec, f/5.6, ISO-250, in-camera Tri X Film Simulation.
Somewhere on the way back to Missouri from Pennsylvania, DiL wanted to stop and walk and old cemetery. She found several and then picked one. It was good to be out of the rig for awhile and the places always provide some interesting images. I came away with a few.
While walking The Girl, I noticed this row of houses .Captured with X-T5, 2025-10-25 07:15:09, 18mm, 1/750sec, f/8, ISO-250, in-camera Tri X Film Simulation,
While in Philly for the wedding, I walked The Girl around the block a few times. The row houses are a fascinating architectural thing that I do not routinely see. Therefore, I needed an image for the memory. So, I made one.
While I do not want to live there, the visit was worth the effort. Life is good.
While visiting Towers Beach, my son crossed in front of the reflection of the Sun. Captured with X-T5, 2025-10-26 04:22:46, 18mm, 1/38sec, f/8, ISO-125, SOOC.
I went to my grandson’s wedding in Philadelphia. I had all of my children and some of their spouses with me. It was a good time and I am very grateful.
Daughter suggested we go to a Delaware beach. So, we did.
I came away with a good memory and a few good frames. Life is good.
Color in the Carson River cottonwoods. Captured with X-T5, 2025-10-01 10:55:33, 35mm, 1/125sec, f/8, ISO-125, SOOC.
I missed an opportunity last night. I walked The Girl late, about 1630h, and did not take a camera with me. We walked one of our favorite paths at Silver Saddle Ranch.
The weather turned dark yesterday afternoon and we had a little rain. When we arrived at the ranch there was no one else. I parked the rig and let her out off lead for a change. I monitored her carefully to intercept her tendency to increase her wanders as time passes without a demand from me to stay close in. She will push the boundary until I offer correction.
When I see her raise her nose to scent the air, I know that she has caught scent of a bobcat or a coyote. This results in an immediate demand to return and she goes on-lead. She has gotten into trouble before and I have no doubt she will again.
She went into scent-the-air mode late into our hike. So, she went back on-lead.
The overcast light sure made for some lovely colors along the Carson River. Then the late light really looked lovely on the valley floor and the homes on the high area. I kinda wished I had a camera.
When we returned to the rig my camera bag was in the back. I should have carried it.
Despite working hard all day, it was a good day. Life is good.
An American Kestral, hunting the sagebrush near the Carson River. Captured with X-T5, 2025-10-03 11:54:18, 300mm, 1/450sec, f/8, ISO-640, SOOC.
Last week The Girl and I were on daily walkies out at Silver Saddle Ranch when I saw a flutter in the sagebrush maybe 10 meters from us. That caught my attention so I watched as we advanced along the upper trail that we walk a lot.
A few more meters down the trail, I noticed a bird perched atop a sagebrush. It was an American Kestral! I know that at least one inhabits the area we often walk, but it does not show itself frequently.
Anxiously, I removed the normal lens from my X-T5 and affixed the 70-300mm zoom. I raised the camera to my face to frame the shot and the small raptor flitted away.
Disappointed, The Girl and I (she was not disappointed, I was) moved forward. However, I kept my own sharp eye open for a reappearance of the tiny raptor.
Again, a few more meters down the trail, I spotted it perched on another sagebrush. I kept another bush between us to break up my outline, found a bare spot that framed the bird, and made a few captures. I could have used the longer 100-400mm zoom in my inventory, but it is very heavy and does not get carried without intent. The 70-300mm is much lighter and more compact, so it is easier to slog around with as a maybe lens.
In any event, it will do. I got a capture of the bird.
The Girl and I continued along our hike, she sniffing and marking, looking for the odd lizard to chase. I kept her on-lead, partly for practice and partly for safety. Snakes are still active, but probably not for much longer. The days are cooling and nights are cooler. They will hibernate before long.
That will give The Girl a little more freedom, but I will remain watchful and keep her close. I will make some exception to strictly on-leash once the risk of rattlesnakes abates for the winter. But, she still has a propensity to chase coyotes. I do not need any more of that and neither does she.
Despite a few sand burrs (she is a sand burr magnet), we had a good hike. It was a good day. Life is good.
While sheltering from the wind and rain of a pop-up thundershower, I noticed the rain on the front glass of the rig. So, I made the capture. Captured with X-T5, 2025-08-23 14:41:13, 35mm, 1/170sec, f/2.8, ISO-125, post in PhotoLab with HP5+ conversion.
I am quite busy right now with work and taking care of The Girl and myself. I did manage to get out for a couple of weekends, first to Weber Reservoir with friends. There was no radio play, but lots of conversation, a shared meal, and a pop-up thunderstorm that provided plenty of excitement. Hence, I offer the abstract above.
For the Labor Day weekend, I was invited with friends to active Bald Mountain, just north from Topaz Lake. We decided to make a part of it and took the vehicles up to the summit. There we grilled burgers, had a great time of fellowship, and I played some radio.
I did violate the First Rule, thinking I had brought the Yaesu FT-897D and instead finding the Elecraft KX3 in the black Apache case I picked up. That meant I was limited to 15w of output power, which is stingy for phone operations.
It turned out OK because I was the only operator who activated. The 15w output is plenty for code operations, especially at altitude.
Although the vista is wonderful, the air quality is not. Shot from Bald Mountain during my SOTA activation. Captured with X-T5, 2025-08-31 13:19:02, 35mm, 1/400sec, f/8, ISO-125, SOOC.
I did manage to get out Labor Day Monday for a POTA activation, which is already documented previous. That provided some needed recreation, some additional Morse Code practice, and a enjoyable Eastern Sierra outing with The Girl.
I like the combination of bright cloud and dark sky, shot on walkies up near Spooner Summit. Captured with X100VI, 2025-09-04 11:18:32, 23mm, 1/7500sec, f/8, ISO-4000, in-camera Acros-Red film simulation.The Girl and I are hiking the Eastern Sierra again, after the bear-scare kept me in-town for a few days. I really thought I lost her when I saw her broad ass disappear over the rise downhill from me.
Fortunately, she responded to my calls after she ran out of gas on the chase. She returned completely gassed, but unharmed. I, however, was worthless for the remainder of the day.
On our way up the trail from the staging area, I noticed this cloud peeking through the pines. I thought it might make a nice image in black and white with a red filter. So, I set the camera to simulate Fujifilm Acros with a red filter and made the capture. I rather like the output.
We finished our hike without incident, although I maintain a watchful attitude and work at staying present while hiking that trail now. The first bear I saw on the hike was last year, but at quite a distance. This time, the bear bombed the hill not ten feet in front of me. I was unable to react before The Girl clicked on and bolted in hot pursuit.
I have also seen a coyote a number of times (although not the last couple of summers), but always in the distance. She had a coyote encounter that left her with lacerations (she has earned the “F*()%#ed-up Face” appellation as a result) and the final rupture of the port-aft CCL. The latter required surgery for repair.
The Girl is a beacon for trouble, it seems.
Work kept me busy the remainder of the week. What this weekend will be is yet to be determined.
Life is busy at the moment. I am grateful for God’s gifts in general, and for the work in particular. Life is good.
The Comstock Casino has earned a few visits because of Juan’s Mexican Restaurant housed therein. The tacos and salsa are top-shelf. Captured with X-T5, 2025-08-28 17:44:53, 35mm, 1/480sec, f/8, ISO-125, Fujifilm Classic Chrome in-camera film simulation, SOOC.
