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.
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.
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.
A one-armed bandit, found at the Red Hut Diner in Carson City, Nevada. Shot with Fuji X-E2 and Fujinon 35mm f/2 at f/2.8. Black and white from an in-camera conversion to the Fujifilm Acros film simulation.
As I have written many times, Wife used to tell me “You have a different way of looking at the world…” Long ago I bought a new Argus-Cosina 35mm SLR with the usual fast Nifty-Fifty. Carrying that camera, and reading Foothorap’s book, taught me to see. I had little money, but I had time and the little encouragement from the book (and some solid examples). So I taught myself to look.
After a couple of years paying for processing, a friend taught me to develop my film and I had access to the University club darkroom. Film was not too expensive, so I shot a lot of black and white, processed it, and even printed some frames. I rolled a lot of reusable canisters using bulk film and a daylight loader.
Now, 50-yeas later, I am still looking at the world. Like most of us, I always have a camera at hand — my iPhone. Most of the time I have a real camera at hand, likely the Fujifilm X100V but many times the Fujifilm X-T5.
A couple of Saturdays ago I decided to get breakfast (actually brunch) at the Red Hut. I carried the Fujifilm X-E2, a tiny little camera that matches the Fujinon f/2 lenses well to make a small kit. So I made a few images with the little X-E2 while waiting for my food.
One that I liked better than most was this old slot machine. I am confident it was current technology probably 50-years ago. Now it is a relic, but an interesting relic.
Linda working the floor. Shot with Fuji X-T5 and a Nikkor 85mm f/1.8 wide open.
A few days ago I was at the Red Hut Diner in south Carson City for breakfast. I had The Usual and it was quite good. This lady is one of my favorite servers ever. She is so outgoing and so fun. She also makes a good image.
Weather is coming. Winter is here. Shot with Fuji X-E2 and Fujinon 35mm f/2 at f/8 using in-camera Classic Chrome film simulation.
Yesterday was too warm for the time of year. We just passed the Winter Solstice and the temperature has been in the mid to upper 50F’s. The wind was from the south at ground level, but I noticed a couple of wave clouds forming. Weather is coming. I pray for the holiday travelers who will be crossing the Sierra Crest today and tomorrow. There will probably be wind and maybe even enough snow to make travel treacherous for the inattentive.
The Girl and I walked our route at Silver Saddle Ranch. Even with a bum knee, she needs exercise to manage her energy and keep her muscle mass. A couple of times she wanted to zoomie, but I restrained that. She does not need to put that kind of stress on her knee, as much as watching her run would give me joy.
So, she is confined to her harness. It gives me a lot more control than the collar and permits me to assist her getting in and out of the rig.
As we walked, the Sun broke through a gap in the clouds for a few minutes, giving me this image of Mount McLellan. I expect it will have more snow over the next couple-three weeks. That will give some variety to my captures, I think. It will be fun.
I decided to keep the little Fujifilm X-E2. It is a tiny camera that has an EVF as well as the LCD screen on the back of the body. The screen does not pivot, but that is OK by me. The camera produces nice images and pairs very well with the little f/2 Fujinon prime lenses, to which the Fujinon 35mm f/2 belongs.
I made a small kit that fits into a Domke F6 bag. I was using that bag for the Sony A7iii, but found it to be a little too small. So I moved the Sony to a Domke F2 bag that can carry some of my vintage glass. I think both kits will work fine.
We headed home after our walk, she limping a bit. I know her knee hurts. I hate this for her and it makes my heart hurt. We will get it fixed soon and then start the recovery phase.
I am grateful for many things, but certainly for The Girl. Life is good.
The Girl and I walked a showery day out at Silver Saddle Ranch last week. All the fair-weather hikers stayed home, so we nearly had the place to ourselves. Mother Nature put on a nice display for us as we started our hike. Yes, there is a rainbow. Shot with Fuji X100V at f/8 using the Kodachrome 64 film simulation, SOOC.
I had supper with an old friend last night1. One of his favorite subjects (as a photographer) is bees. He loves to make images of bees going about their work. He reminded me that I stumbled upon at least one pepsis wasps a couple-three years ago. Well, maybe it was four-years ago.
Ki and I were walking one of our routes along the Carson River/Mexican Ditch out at Silver Saddle Ranch. There is a section of that trail I call “The Slot” because one side is bounded by a fence intended to keep livestock (and people) out of the river corridor and the other side is bounded by a fence to keep livestock in the pasture. An irrigation ditch parallels the latter so there is a large berm to keep water in the ditch. The path is only four or five feet wide, in contrast to 10 or 15 feet wide along other sections.
I generally kept Ki (and now Sera) on-lead when we pass through that section of the trail. Line of sight is limited and I do not want to be surprised by other canines. I suppose that is unnecessary information.
On the particular day, I noticed a couple of butterflies working a milkweed plant. And then I noticed a black wasp with red wings. That got my attention. I had the Fuji X-T1 with the Fujinon 35mm f/2 lens mounted to it2. I made a capture of the wasp… probably several captures.
I cannot find them. I spent an hour last night looking for the originals and found nothing. They must be lost with one of the transitions in software I made over the years. I recall leaving both Aperture and Lightroom behind. The images might have been lost the respective libraries. That is a pity.
In any event, I found an image here in my weblog. It was a rumination on a chance meeting with a woman named Judy M., who I met on the trail out by Carson River. My recollection is that she was another wanderer who was working through some life changes. I recall that we visited off and on while hiking the trail and that she created her own weblog where she posted her own ruminations.
I have not heard from her in several years. We kept up via email for a while. Her weblog is gone. Perhaps she is, too. I do not know.
But, as I think I have reflected here a number of times, I am reminded that we have circles of engagement about us. The smallest holds those closest to us — close family, closest friends, and lovers. They are more permanent than most other people we encounter in life.
The next circle is a bit larger. It contains the first group plus other friends and professional relations. These are less permanent relationships, though they might be strong for a time. But things change and those folks move on to other places, people, and endeavors.
The last circle is larger yet. It contains the first two groups plus the myriad of other folks who wander into our lives for a time, maybe are close and could possibly join the other inner circles, but for whatever reasons do not stick and wander away again.
That departure sometimes leaves a hole behind. I can think of a few relationships that I thought were going to last, with the individual moving close and closer to my inner circle for a time, maybe even stay for a year or three. But, sometimes abruptly, they leave. Those leavings sometimes hurt a bit.
Judy never made it that close. But we were friends for a time. I wished her well and enjoyed the company and conversation of another who wanders. I wonder where she might be now. I expect to never know.
In the end, I find it a bit fascinating how dynamic my social life has been. I have never had a large social group. I am an introvert and gain energy in solitude (with my dog now; with Wife for many years). But I have a social group and parts of it are dynamic, with others moving in and out of my circles.
Now I need to get on with my day. I am preparing to sell several camera bodies that I am not using and am not going to use. I replaced my first Sony A7S with an A7Sii last year. My approach to photography is a bit different than the use case of A7S series, so I bought a Sony A7iii late last week. It will be delivered in a couple of days and I will put it to use shooting my vintage glass.
A few weeks ago I took a notion to shoot the 35mm lenses in my vintage collection. I did the shoot with the A7Sii and was fascinated by the difference in optical performance. I am going to re-shoot the test with the A7iii (a 24MP camera opposed to the 12MP of the A7Sii) and then put together a comparison of the results. I do not expect a dramatic difference attributable to the change in camera resolution, but that will make an interesting observation as well. It will be fun.
The image is from last week. We had a day of showery weather — definitely a sign that fall is here and winter approaches. We walked anyway, with The Girl pausing now and again to shake the rain from what little fur she has. As we hiked the access road, I noticed the bright patch over my left shoulder and paused to make an image. The faint rainbow was a gift.
As always, I am grateful. Life is definitely good.
1No, I did not have an old friend for supper last night!
2I thought I had a different body and a Vivitar 90mm f/2.5 macro lens. I guess my remembry is broken. Or there are (or were) more images than just the one.
The well-worn trail from the sand pit to Mexican Ditch at Silver Saddle Ranch. Fujifilm X-T1, Fujinon 35mm f/2 at f/8. Raw image converted to Acros film simulation in-camera. Straight out of camera.
We hiked out at Silver Saddle Ranch the last few days. It is closer to the house and the weather has been cooler, so Sera does not get too hot. I am on the watch for snakes and keep her close in. There is also the chance of encountering another canine and she can be reactive (depending on the other dog).
On this particular hike, I carried the Fuji X-T1 (my first Fujifilm camera) with the little Fujinon 35mm f/2 lens. It is from Fuji’s compact lens series, which remind me of the old film rangefinder camera lenses. The rangefinder cameras and their lenses tended to be compact (and good). There was also less of a range of focal lengths for those cameras because of the limitations of the rangefinder focusing system.
But, I digress. I do like to talk about equipment.
I struggled to keep my attention focused on my space. My mind wandered in every direction, that barking dog or chattering monkey figuratively trailing me on the trail. It took effort to reign in my wandery mind and focus on my Girl and our hike. The camera I brought to help me with that did not help. I struggled to find a subject to capture or a place to pose The Girl so I could make an image.
I elected to carry the old X-T1 because it is small and the 35mm lens offers a different look at things than the 23mm of the X100V. I thought about tossing another lens into the bag before we left the house, but elected to keep the kit small. A recent goal is to keep things as simple as practical because of my propensity for making things overly complicated.
Aside: As I write this early Wednesday morning, Sera just wandered in to my workroom to check on me. She looked at me, made eye contact, and asked if I am OK. She knows I am up early, even for me, and decided to check on me. After some interaction, a few pets, a doggie smile, she headed back to bed. I will return there and sleep a bit more before I really start my day.
For most of the last year, I have been shooting mostly JPG images with the Fuji X Weekly film simulations. The Fuji cameras are particularly good at reproducing certain film looks and I want that film look. (That means I need to shoot more film, I think.)
But, over the last week or so, I decided to revert back to shooting in RAW and then post-processing the RAW files to a processed (in-camera or at the computer) JPG after the fact. I generally have an idea whether I am looking at a subject that will present better in black and white or color.
So, for the trail image above, I knew that I would produce a black and white image. I also knew I wanted to use one of the embedded film simulations in the X-T1. The ACROS seems like the one to use.
Today and tomorrow I will finish up my preparations for a Field Day 2024 expedition. I will camp with friends out south from Smith Valley, Nevada. We will have a good time of radio play and fellowship.
When I come home Monday, I will have to do a quick reprovision of the camper because I have field work the remainder of next week. Then I expect to be home for a bit as I have a number of personal projects to work on before the summer ends.
Camping is good. The fellowship of friends is also good. Life is good. I am grateful.
Fuji X-T1 and Fujinon 35/2 with in-camera conversion. Daily capture from morning walkies with The Girl.
We had a nice morning walk out at Silver Saddle Ranch this morning. It will be windy this afternoon. I know this partly because that is the forecast. However, the wind was already up at 0900h local, which is early. Also, the lenticular clouds foreshadow the coming of more wind.
It is a bit early for us to have Zephyr winds. But this is an unusual weather year. I think El Niño is strong this year. Now I wonder what the coming winter will bring. Will it be more heavy snow?
The Girl and I enjoyed the morning walk. I might even get out to play some radio this afternoon. We will see.
This compact Fujinon 35mm f/2 is one of my favorite lenses.
I bought the Fujinon XF 35mm f/2 WR lens some time ago. I don’t recall exactly when I purchased the lens, but it was sometime after I bought my X-T1. As Fujifilm released their compact series of lenses, they received very good reviews. They are fast. They are compact. They are well-made (mostly metal and glass with plastic where it makes sense). They are weather resistant (like the X-T1).
There are plenty of very technical, pixel-peeping, jargon-filled reviews on the Interwebs. I think those reviews are interesting, but then I am an engineer and I like technical analysis. My short review is not like those. That is all done and I can add nothing significant to that content.
What I can do is share some of my experience with this particular lens on the X-T1. I carry it a lot (hence all the dust). It complements the small form-factor of the X-T1 well. It is excellent optically. It focuses accurately (for the most part) and quickly. It is also very quiet.
I found this on morning walkies Sunday and had to have an image.A number of the images on my weblog were made with the Fuji 35/2. Some of my favorite images (think the pepsis wasp) were made with this lens. Some of the characteristics of this lens that I like are:
It will focus to about a foot, which is close enough to work as a light macro lens.
It has good contrast.
It is small and light.
It is fast enough to provide separation between the subject and the background.
The out of focus portions of the image are quite pleasing.
There is only one thing that I don’t think this lens does very well. It will sometimes miss focus, especially when close in. That is a limitation of the system and not a fault of the lens. The Fujinon 35/2 is not a true macro lens. The focusing sensors will sometimes target the background behind a close subject. When I miss this in review I am disappointed when I return to the computer and begin working on the image.
The solution is to check focus in the field after making the capture. The alternative is to use manual focus (which the X-T1 does very well) with the split screen and focus peaking.
The split-screen capability of the X-T1 operates by presenting a small portion of the center of the image, enlarged, adjacent to the full frame in the EVF. This is perfect for use with manual focus, either when operating the Fujinon lenses in manual mode or when attaching legacy manual focus lenses to the camera via an adapter. (I have a large collection of legacy glass that can produce beautiful images.)
This boy is the victim of a couple of bad spinal disks. However, in the water, he’s just a dog — his land-gear left behind.Focus peaking is an algorithm in the camera firmware that detects the sharpness of the image and highlights sharp areas in the EVF. Focus peaking was a feature of my first mirrorless camera (a Sony NEX-5N, that I loved and used a great deal) and was a requirement when I started looking at the Fujifilm Finepix cameras. Fuji knows how to do focus peaking just as well as Sony.
Although my intent is not to review the Fujifilm X-T1, those points are salient because the Fujinon 35/2 works with the camera as a system and this system works well for me. It is a good system.
To sum up, I really like the handling of this lens on the X-T1. With a compact lens and relatively small body, the combination is light, handles very well, produces excellent images, and is a joy to use. The X-T1 and 35/2 fit into a small bag and there is room for extra batteries, extra memory cards, and a couple more of the compact Fujinon lenses. But, those lenses are a topic for another entry.
