Category: photography

Why No Radio?

ruminator
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.

Blobs

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I found these characters on a shelf in a coffee house. Captured with X-T5, 2025-11-01 12:50:10, 50.5mm, 1/75sec, f/8, ISO-8000, Tri-X film simulation in-camera, SOOC.

It is the custom of my Older Son and DiL to stop at coffee roasters along their travels, sample the coffee, and purchase one or more bags to take home. On this particular day (I do not recall which day it was nor where we were), we stopped into a small coffee house in a strip mall, maybe in Indiana. The place was busy enough with locals, but not packed. I thought the ambiance was interesting and wandered about while waiting for my joe.

These three blobs caught my attention (hat tip to Wife, who often said “caught my eye” while winking furiously), so I paused for a few frames. I like this one the best.

The coffee was good. Mission accomplished, we loaded back up into the 4Runner and headed towards home.

It was a good day. I am grateful for much, but especially my children. Life is good.

Color and Shadow

ruminator
While in Pennsylvania with my kids, we stopped at a local coffee shop. I stepped into the plaza area behind it and was blessed with this image. Captured with X-T5, 2025-10-29 12:33:36, 35mm, 1/500sec, f/8, ISO-250, SOOC.

There is so much I could write about from my long roadtrip in October and November. But, for the moment, work demands my energy. So, there will be bits and pieces from my travels as I post a few more images from the trip.

We visited a nice coffee house in York, Pennsylvania. Older Son and his wife like to buy coffee from such places as they travel. It is a neat intention and I might steal it.

As we waited for our coffee to be made, I stepped into the plaza area that is shared between a number of establishments behind the coffee house. There was a wonderful mural painted on one wall. The Sun was shining on it beautifully. I made a few captures using the X-T5. I like this enough to post it.

The coffee was good. The fellowship with my children was better. It was a good day and one I am grateful for.

Life is good.

Beautiful Girl

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I love the way the light falls on The Girl. Captured with X-T5, 2025-10-29 09:06:34, 55mm, 1/80sec, f/4, ISO-320, SOOC.

We were messing around the AirBnB early one morning and I noticed the light falling on my sleeping Girl. She was tired enough after our hike to want a nap. She gave me a wonderful candid portrait.

Life is good (and so is my dog).

Monuments

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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.

It was a good stop. Life is good.

Row Houses

ruminator
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.

Towers Beach

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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.

This Old Rock

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This old steel pipe with a rock on top is a favorite subject. There has to be a story behind this. Captured with X-T5, 2025-10-04 13:45:35, 35mm, 1/3000sec, f/2.8, ISO-250, in-camera Tri-X film simulation, SOOC.

We have hiked past this pipe and perched stone countless times. Sometimes, when the light is right, I stop and make an image.

This is one of those images.

Kestral

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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.

Piñon Hills and Carson River Valley

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Clouds and canopy along the Carson River on Silver Saddle Ranch. Captured with X-T5, 2025-09-25 12:19:49, 35mm, 1/1600sec, f/8, ISO-250, in-camera Tri-X film simulation, SOOC.

For the last week or so, The Girl and I hiked the Silver Saddle Ranch open space. While not completely out of snake season, it is safe enough with her on-lead. Her lead work needs work anyway. (She is doing much better on-lead.)

Some of the rabbitbrush has waned, but my allergies are still in full force. That is making some things a bit difficult because my eyes are subject to the allergies and watery eyes make for poorer vision.

I am working through my first mug as I write this and will want another shortly. It is much cooler here in western Nevada this morning — in the low 30ºs F. That will make The Girl frisky when we hike today. I worked all morning yesterday, so it was afternoon before we hiked. Today I think I would like to get out a bit earlier, although there is still work to do.

I had supper with my buddy Jimmy yesterday evening. It was a good visit and the food at Betsy’s Big Kitchen is decent. All in all, it was a good day.

I am grateful. Life is good.