Not Natural

2026/01/302026/01/29 ruminatorLeave a comment

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.

Fix Me

2026/01/282026/01/28 ruminator

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.

Desert Peach

2025/05/032025/05/02 ruminator

After a full day of work, yesterday, The Girl and I finally headed out for a hike at Silver Saddle Ranch about 1715h. This is late for us, but the Sun was really warm yesterday and I did not want The Girl to overheat. I noticed some heavy clouds to the south and paused at the rig to check the weather before we left. Light rain was forecast for the next hour.

“I guess we’ll get wet,” I said to The Girl.

Sure enough, as we drove to the upper staging area, the sprinkles started. I made her contain her excitement while I retrieved a packable puffy I keep in the back of the rig. It was not particularly cold, but I knew the light jacket would shed most of the rain.

Prepared, I got her out, grabbed my camera, and we headed out. We had the place to ourselves. No one else wanted to hike in the rain.

The Girl chuffed and sniffed (on lead, of course) as we walked south. I did not really expect any critters, but I simply do not trust her to stay out of trouble.

The rain came a little harder for a bit. She paused to shake now and again, but did not ask to return to the rig. Neither of us minded a little rain to close out the week. The jacket kept me mostly dry.

The Fuji X100vi is waterproof with a filter affixed to the lens. I have had a filter affixed to the lens since I got the camera. I often use a light diffusion filter at night or indoors, but use a UV filter during daylight hours. A diffusion filter can really drop contrast if the sun shines on the glass.

As we neared the end of the hike, the shower passed off to the north and a bit of Sun peeked through the clouds. That lit up the vegetation wonderfully. So, I took advantage of the serendipity (the moment, not The Girl) and paused for a few images. I think some of them are decent.

We then hiked the couple-hundred feet back to the rig and mounted up. I decided to go by DQ for a bite of supper (cheeseburger, fries, and small Blizzard), all of which were shared with The Girl. She was a little grabby with the fries, so I had to correct her.

We then headed back toward the house, with a stop at Costco to refuel the rig. It was a good day. I am grateful.

Life is good.

Clouds over Mt. McLellan

2023/12/072026/02/01 ruminator

After a long meeting and a little decompression (and some lunch), I got The Girl out for walkies at Silver Saddle Ranch. It is good we left when we did, because about halfway into our walk, I noticed clouds showing over Prison Hill. Further north, I could tell it was raining in Washoe Valley. The wind was up, gusting hard from the south/southwest.

The incoming weather added some impetus to making progress. I snagged three captures and then the battery in the Fujifilm X-E2 died. I should have known to bring a backup battery. Nonetheless, it felt like rain was coming and so we moved right along.

Even so, The Girl and I played a little. She picked up a huge stick that made me laugh out loud. It was just like all those memes in which a dog picks up a six-foot long stick.

At least she did not run into anything.

And, sure enough, it started raining when we were about five minutes out from the rig. It was good to get in and be dry.

In the end, it was a good outing. I came home with a keeper. We had fun. We got exercise. Life is good.

Old Gate at Silver Saddle Ranch

2023/12/062025/12/06 ruminator

Gate in the ranch compound, Silver Saddle Ranch. Shot with the Fuji X-E2 and the Fujinon 27mm f/2.8 at f/4. Post processed in DxO Photolab 7 and NIK Silver Efex 6.

I was not really in the mood to do much when we left the house yesterday afternoon. I left the Pentax 645NII kit, the Fujifilm kits, and the pack at home. I was hungry, so we drove by Arby’s for a sandwich (shared). Then we headed for Silver Saddle Ranch to get in a walk.

It was a beautiful fall day in Carson City. The sun was shining with maybe a little high clouds. It was strong enough to make mid-40ºF feel nice with a light cover. There was not a lot of traffic at the gate at 1330h. All of this raised my spirits, especially getting out of the house with The Girl.

What I did bring (besides The Girl), was the little Fujifilm X-E2 with the 27mm f/2.8 pancake lens mounted. This is the smallest digital camera I own^1,2. I have it on a wrist strap, so I can let it dangle when I am busy with The Girl or want both hands free.

I made a few captures as we walked along. I made sure she checked in with me frequently. There were only a couple other walkers that I saw and none crossed paths with us. That made for a really nice walk.

The Girl got frisky a couple of times along the way and we paused to play. Those interactions always raise my spirits, and the did this day.

I grew more cautious as we approached the segment of the trail that has more traffic, but we saw no one. We paused at the ranch compound to look for possible photographs. I noticed this old gate and the light was just about right to bring out the texture in the wood. There was a power pole peeking out above the cross bar, but a judicious adjustment to my point of view hid it from the frame.

I made the capture. I am glad I decided to carry the camera along.

We ended the hike with some more play. She brought a stick and we wrestled over it for a few minutes as we walked.

The drive home was uneventful. The Girl crashed on her bed under my work table. It was a good day. Life is good!

¹Well, that is not *exactly* true — I have a Panasonic ZS-40. I used it as a field camera for the Wilson Creek project. Its EVF and image quality make it such that I do not want to use it. Neither are very good. For a slightly larger package, I have better options that are much more enjoyable (and easy) to use.

²Edit: Well, that changed this year (2025). I added an Olympus Tough TG-7 to my inventory specifically for field work. It has a short zoom range (sufficient), is water and dust proof (or at least resistant), is impact-resistant (normal drop), and has a bright enough screen to compose the shot in sunlight. The ZS-40 is now redundant. In addition, the X-E2 is now sold. Updated 06 December 2025.

Daily Image — 07 November 2023

2023/11/072026/02/01 ruminator

Captured on walkies using the Fujifilm X100V with its lovely 23mm f/2 lens at f/8. I used Reggie’s Portra 400 film simulation. Minor post processing in Iridient Developer (contrast, saturation, curves).

I am working on the hydrology for one of my projects. The weather is cooler and more windy, so I do not want to get out as early.

Once I made some progress on project work and the markets, The Girl and I headed out to walk Silver Saddle Ranch. The weather today was cooler than yesterday, but also less rainy. Still, I could see rain to the north in Washoe Valley and behind Mt. McLellan. A curl of rain clouds pulled south to the east of Mt. McLellan, but did not seem threatening.

The Girl continues to worsen the condition of her toe with the missing nail. If I am distracted for just a moment, I will catch her licking. So, she slept in the cone-of-shame last night, wore it all morning, walked without it (but limping), and is now wearing the cone. She will get to sleep in it again tonight, although I might remove it when we sit on the sofa to relax and snuggle.

I carried the Fuji X100V with me again today. Last night I read a bit on Ritchie Roesch’s website, Fuji X Weekly about those film simulations he recommends. He has a list of seven because most of the recent Fujifilm cameras have seven custom slots. I am already using several of his recommendations, but I have some empty slots to fill and will add his recommendations. Then I will use them.

Today I used Reggie’s Portra 400 simulation, which is intended to produce results similar to the Kodak Portra 400 film stock. One of the things Reggie did was to set Auto White Balance instead of using the Daylight balance of the regular Portra simulation. This adds a little to the flexibility of the simulation. There are other details as well, but I consider them relatively minor.

I came home with a couple of decent images. That is, images that I like. I make images for me — that is, I am the only one who needs to like them. If others like them, that is good. I appreciate the acknowledgement.

Alex (The Photographic Eye) recently did a video on the subtle impact of social media on the photographs we produce. This resonated because I left Instagram a couple of months ago (again) because I was tired of doomscrolling through things I did not want to see to find those that I do. On my IG account, I sometimes posted photographs I knew would gather more “likes” partly as an experiment. It is a nice dopamine hit to see that my work is appreciated.

What Alex made me think about is the who and why of my photography. It is good for me to do something creative and that is why I do it. The photographs are for me, because there was something about the subject that attracted my eye (and my mind).

So, what I share here and also on FB are images that somehow spoke to me and caused me to pause, find a composition, and make the capture (usually several). I do not always like the end result, but I usually learn something in the process.

OK, so I do indulge a little and share a lot of Doggo images. Those are for fun (and I do love the subject) and for my dog-loving friends.

So, I like this capture of Mt. McLellan and the weather over Carson City. The fall colors are mostly gone, with just a few hangers-on. We’ll soon start to see snow and some gray days and certainly cooler temperatures. But I still love the high desert and I am good so long as the sun is shining.

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Tag: Silver Saddle Ranch