Pismo Beach

2026/04/262026/04/26 ruminator

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.

The Stash

2026/04/172026/04/15 ruminator

I walked to the pharmacy a few days ago and came back a different route. I think Young Son would probably like this place. Captured with X-Pro3, 2026-03-28 15:03:59, Fujinon 23mm f/2, 1/480sec, f/8, ISO-500, post in PhotoLab7.

Life continues to be very busy with project work. That seems to be the case looking forward over the next months. Then, maybe, the workload will let up a bit for other things.

Do not get me wrong, I am very grateful for the work. I am a little less pleased with myself for saying “Yes” too many times. The resulting workload (self-inflicted) is a little challenging, but I will get through it.

Regarding the image, a couple weeks ago I decided to walk to the local pharmacy and pick up a waiting prescription. I carried the new-to-me Fujifilm X-Pro3 with the little Fujinon 23mm f/2 lens affixed to the body. This is a favored focal length for street photographers. But there was nothing going on in suburbia.

But… I knew there was an interesting store of some kind on the south side of Fairview, so I walked home that way. What I found is a place I think Young Son would really like — a game store. I went inside and walked around a bit. There were a couple of small groups playing MTG in the back room and a few interesting items on the shelves in the storefront. I chatted with the young man working the counter, and then left. I might go back to peruse the movies as there might be something to add to my collection.

In any event, I came home with a nice capture. I converted this one in Photolab 7.

I remain grateful. I remain prayerful, at least most days. Life is good.

We Repair

2026/04/142026/04/14 ruminator

While on walkies with The Girl, I came across this sandwich board, seen many times, but this time I stopped and made a capture. Captured with X-Pro3, 2026-04-14 10:16:18, Voigtlandar 35mm, 1/22000sec, f/1.4, ISO-160, light processing in PhotoLab 7.

Two reports are now completed. It was a hard push to get the work done and generate the reports. With them complete, it is now time to turn my attention to the next projects needing it. That will be another hard push, I expect. But, that is the consulting business. At least I will get a small break before the pressure builds again.

I just finished Alex Kilbee’s video about Steven Shore, a photographer was was active in the 1970s and whose work is considered by many to be of mundane subjects. But, there is something special in his treatment of ordinary things and scenes, and Killbee did a good job of pointing out what makes Shore’s photographs important.

I will buy at least one of Shore’s photo books to spend some time with. That will be fun and maybe I will learn something.

The Girl and I got out about noon for a short walk before my next meeting. I carried the Fujifilm X-Pro3 with a new-to-me Voigtlander 35mm f/1.2 manual focus lens affixed to the camera. It is a lovely little lens that matches the rangefinder aesthetic well. There is a jeweler not far from our place and they had their sandwich board displayed on the sidewalk. So, I paused to make an image of it with Fairview Avenue in the background.

While not the same as Shore’s lovely images, it is reminiscent of his use of ordinary scenes to display something special. Perhaps I managed to capture a little of that in my own.

I will spend some time working today, but also some time recovering. I am grateful for the work and for its completion. Life is good.

Up for Air

2026/04/052026/04/05 ruminator

While out and about one evening, I noticed the light on the renewed Legislature Building. Captured with X-Pro3, 2026-01-29 16:11:30, 23mm, 1/550sec, f/9, ISO-640, light processing in PhotoLab 7.

I have another big push on a project to make. But, I decided that I must do some things that are self care. One of them is a bit of writing here. Another is a bit of photography while out and about.

I have been carrying the Fujifilm X-Pro3 quite a bit since I purchased it. It generally has one of the small Fujinon primes mounted, sometimes called the f/2 line. Not all of them are f/2, of course, but a good number of them are. Most are weather sealed. None have any in-body image stabilization. They might not focus particularly fast as well.

All are good, optically. I think the weakest is 18mm f/2, in part because it is the oldest and in part because it is a pancake lens.

On this particularly outing I had the Fujinon 23mm f/2 mounted to the camera. The light was good.

Life is good. I am grateful, particularly on this Easter morning.

This Way!

2026/02/162026/02/15 ruminator

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.

It was a very good day. Life is good.

Something, Once

2026/02/092026/08/22 ruminator

I am in a busy season, once again. But I still carry a camera daily. An image does not always present itself, or I am not paying sufficient attention to see the image presented.

Walkies through the sagebrush out at Silver Saddle Ranch sometimes provides an interesting image. This pile of boards, while presenting a hazard for doggo with respect to exposed nails (and later the possibility of a rattlesnake hide), was something, once. It might have been a door or gate. Or maybe a platform for some other purpose. There was clearly a structure in the area by virtue of other ruins. But I do not know what it was.

In any event, the area provided some fodder for a daily image.

I am grateful. Life is good.

Fuzzy

2026/02/072026/02/07 ruminator

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.

I am grateful. Life is good.

Mormon Tea and Mt. McLellan

2026/02/012026/08/22 ruminator

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.

Not Natural

2026/01/302026/01/29 ruminator

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.

Random Ruminations

Category: photography