Lagunitas Creek

Another shot of Lagunitas Creek.

Taken with the 12-60 lens. Yes, there are times when the "around the neck" weight of it irritates me, but at its widest (24mm equiv.) it’s great.

Photo: Lagunitas Creek—Marin County, 2009

Hersh’s

Antique advertisement, nicely faded, found in the vicinity of the Tenement Museum in New York.

Photo: Hersh’s—New York, 2006

Joshua Tree National Park

An early morning visit to Joshua Tree National Park. (Much-visited in its prior life as Joshua Tree National Monument by Edward Weston.)

Photos: Joshua Tree & Rocks—Joshua Tree National Park, 1999; Rocks—Joshua Tree National Park, 1999

Mike’s Wheels

I’ve been scanning some of my older color film negatives using my Nikon "Supercoolscan" scanner. It actually seems to do a pretty good job on the color negs . . . not so well with B&W. (Of course, I have a lot more B&W negatives than I do color.)

I started using color negative film in 1997; I mainly used Kodacolor 100. (Tried using Kodacolor 200 but finally decided that it had too much grain.)

This shot was taken during a trip to Joshua Tree National Park in 1999 using a Minolta 7000i.

Photo: Mike’s Wheels—Twentynine Palms, 1999

Monday Geese Blogging

Geese on the expansive lawn at Fort McHenry (Baltimore) with a statue of, um . . . Orpheus in the background.

Yes. Orpheus.

Photo: Geese—Fort McHenry, 1999

Fence—San Geronimo Valley

Top photo taken in late afternoon slanting sunlight.

The next morning started out overcast . . . I returned to the fence and took the lower photo.

Photos: Fence, Sun—Marin County, 2009; Fence, Clouds—Marin County, 2009

Saturday

Blog-skipping day at the offices of the mikereport.

However, feel free to check out this earlier post on the Olympus E-510 and backpacking.

Statues

This photo has to stand by itself. I have no idea where it was taken . . . in New York somewhere.

But a good example of the C-8080's remarkable jpg files.

Photo: Statues—New York, 2006

. . . from the archives #49: Cabin—Hawaii, 1980

Taken with a Mamiya RB-67, a very large medium-format camera; it’s hard to believe that I lugged it all the way over to Hawaii. One of the places we stayed was this rustic cabin thingie.

Don’t know what these plants are . . . in black and white they have a certain metallic-like quality.

Photo: Cabin—Hawaii, 1980

Fluff & Fold

In Los Angeles on Fairfax Boulevard. For sure, they do fluff and fold.

Alas, I didn’t have anything that needed fluffing and folding.

Photo: Fluff & Fold—Los Angeles, 2009

The Met II

Very unique how one could get right up to the various Rembrandts and Vermeers—within a few inches. Gratifying to be able to do that, on the one hand, but on the other, seeing them as actual physical objects somehow seemed to reduce their iconic stature.

I think that there was a nice Charles Sheeler exhibit going on when I visited.

Photos: Drawing Rembrandt—New York, 2006; Statue—New York, 2006

Monday Bird Blogging

I dropped my stuff off at the Oakland Farmer’s Market, parked the truck and went over to Peet’s for a cinnamon roll. As I was walking back to my booth site I spotted this bird sitting on an old hamburger sign. A-ha! I thought. Certainly that’s an immature Black Crown Night Heron!

Of course I didn’t think that. I couldn’t even find it in my birding book. Had to go to Barbara for the ID.

Photo: Black Crown Night Heron—Alameda County, 2009

The Met

Another entry in my New York series, focusing this time on the obligatory visit to the Metropolitan Museum of Art. I liked the view of Central Park and the New York skyline from the roof, and the vast entry hall. (Is it called the "entry hall?")

Photos: Skyline, Central Park—New York, 2006; The Great Hall—New York, 2006

Glasses

Taken using an Olympus E-510, a tripod and f9. I thought that the Four-Thirds format was supposed to result in incredible depth of field! I thought that f9 would be enough!

Apparently not . . .

Photo: Glasses—Marin County, 2009

. . . from the archives #48: Tent in Snow, Kearsarge Pass—Sierra Nevada, 1974

That year I had been taking the Sierra Club’s mountaineering course and one of their talking points was that backpacking in the snow was great fun as long as you were adequately prepared.

So in order to practice our skills we took a group trip up to the Eastern Sierra, camped overnight at Onion Valley and then headed up towards Kearsarge Pass. I remember one incident in which one of my boots sunk a little bit more than I had expected into the snow and, as if in slow motion, I inexorably twisted and fell—backwards, my backpack squished in the snow as I struggled, turtle-like, to get back up.

At one point the snow started coming down pretty heavily. We set up camp well short of the pass, amidst foxtail pines. I shared a tent with Pat Brown—her husband, Rick, was unable to make it that weekend. I assume that that’s her in the photo.

Photo: Tent in Snow, Kearsarge Pass—Sierra Nevada, 1974

Selling Photographs: Considerations

—My photos rarely are purchased as a gift for someone. They are almost always bought as a personal item.

—Farmer’s Market sales are, almost by definition, impulse buys. People are there for radishes and arugula, not photos (or jewelry, etc.) Thus the unlikelihood of selling big-ticket items. Not an impossibility, but unlikely.

—Therefore, one needs to determine what is the "maximum impulse price" that any given object can be sold for. One would think that small photos, selling for less, would be the best option. But no, small 4x6 prints on 8x10 paper don’t sell at all, even for $10.00 each. Even my elegant Nielsen-framed 11x14 photos are perceived as too small. So far the best-selling items have been unframed prints, about 8x10 image size on 11x14 paper. I’ve been selling them for $20.00 each, but that’s just too low.

—Farmer’s Market has been great for practice in trying out different booth ideas, practice in setting up and taking down, and experience in leaving the house and driving to a strange destination. Also good for perfecting one’s pitch.

Photos: Art Lover—Oakland, 2009; Wall of Pegboard—Oakland, 2009

Pegboard Revisited, or, Pegboard vs. ProPanels

I decided that two-sided pegboard easels aren’t necessary, so I converted one two-sided pegboard easel into two one-sided easels.

If the above isn’t clear, please sit down and re-read several times.

There are definite disadvantages to pegboard. Weight, certainly is right up there. Very unwieldy and heavy. Also, photos aren’t displayed to their best advantage, since they need to be hung at an angle.

The ultimate solution is to go 100% ProPanel. Disadvantage is, of course, price.

Photo: Pegboard Assembly—Marin County, 2009

Rebecca Weathers Dukes

Yes! As I had predicted earlier, Google has now taken note of my Duke Gardens post and now the mikereport is at the top o’ the list when doing a search on "Rebecca Weathers Dukes."

Unfortunately, we still don’t really know anything about the lady . . .

Monday Pelican Blogging

Back at the Corte Madera wetland area, watching the white pelicans take flight.

Photo: White Pelicans—Marin County, 2009

Napa Interlude II

The wedding we attended was at (of course) a winery. So there was the old oaken vine-entwined door, the requisite rose petals, and the redwood backdrop for the couple.

I coulda gotten better pix if I had a Nikon D3x!

Photos: Winery Door—Napa County, 2009; Rose Petals—Napa County, 2009; Couple—Napa County, 2009

Camera Review

Well, the Olympus E-620 has just gotten a very favorable review from dpreview, 32 pages worth!

There are now two possible Olympus upgrades for me to take, should I desire: the E-30, more features but heavier, and the E-620, less features but, yes, lighter.

We will have to think on this.

Photo: E-620 from Steve’s Digicams

Hog Wild

A pig racing venue at the fair, and source for the mikereport’s current banner.

We didn’t stick around for the actual pig races.

Photo: Hog Wild—Marin County, 2009

Bumper Stickers

. . . at the Republican Party booth at the Marin County Fair.

Amongst the stickers there’s an interesting feminist slogan! The backstory is quite interesting:

At the beginning of her career as a historian of early America, Laurel Thatcher Ulrich published an article entitled "Virtuous Women Found: New England Ministerial Literature, 1668-1735." Could anything sound more narrowly academic than that -- a scholarly examination of a small subset of Puritan funeral sermons? But Ulrich's paper was destined to have a long history. It opened this way:

"Cotton Mather called them 'the hidden ones.' They never preached or sat in a deacon's bench. Nor did they vote or attend Harvard. Neither, because they were virtuous women, did they question God or the magistrates. They prayed secretly, read the Bible through at least once a year, and went to hear the minister preach even when it snowed. Hoping for an eternal crown, they never asked to be remembered on earth. And they haven't been. Well-behaved women seldom make history."

Since 1976, when that paragraph was printed in American Quarterly, Ulrich's final ringing sentence has appeared -- sometimes with the word "rarely" replacing "seldom" -- on T-shirts, coffee mugs and buttons. It has gradually grown into one of the best-known slogans of modern feminism.

Michael Dirda in The Washington Post

Photo: Republican Bumper Stickers—Marin County, 2009

Coral Reef

We spent about 2 hours July 3rd walking around the Marin County Fair.

Very colorful!

Photo: Coral Reef—Marin County, 2009

More From the Fairfax Festival (Fairfax, California)

As I was leaving the Fairfax Festival after a hard day of meeting and greeting customers I saw the evening light striking the blue siding on this building. Luckily I still had enough of my wits about me to take a few snaps. (A passer-by thanked me for bringing his attention to the scene.)

During the day I took a few minutes away from my booth to check out some of the competition. Never did find out what the exact story was on the peace chain (free, but suggested donations are $3.00—$10.00.)

Photos: Blue Siding—Marin County, 2009; Peace Chain—Marin County, 2009

Monday Cat & Turkey Blogging

The neighbor’s cat and two turkeys engaged in a semi-confrontation.

Luckily for felid-meleagris relations, all ended harmoniously.

Photos: Alert Cat & Turkeys—Marin County, 2009; Relaxed, Flopped-Over Cat & Turkeys—Marin County, 2009

Gandhi & Wienermobile

Some have questioned the necessity of having a camera on one’s possession at all times. Here is proof positive of that need. Yes, non-Photoshopped: Gandhi (statue of) and a Wienermobile.

Taken in 2003 in back of the SF Ferry Bldg on my commute home with a Leica Minilux using Kodak chromogenic black and white film.

Second Gandhi photo shot last week. Earlier pix here.

Photos: Gandhi & Wienermobile—San Francisco, 2003; Gandhi (close)—San Francisco, 2009

North Carolina Scenic Drive

Flag photo taken during our scenic drive just north of Durham, in the town of Bahama.

Dock photo taken at Lake Michie, also on the byway. Yes, dock pix are a dime a dozen.

Photos: Flag & House—North Carolina, 2009; Dock, Lake Michie—North Carolina, 2009

Napa Interlude

Whoa . . . we were invited to a wedding in the Napa valley! In Calistoga, actually.

So in Calistoga, at the northern end of the valley, you have the old-timey hot springs and the side roads through the vineyards with some of Mike’s favorite trees—digger pines—in the distance.

Lastly, the very pleasant wedding, with Mike taking amateur wedding pix, but managing to work in a self-portrait along with the happy couple.

Photos: Dr. Wilkinson’s—Napa County, 2009; Road—Napa County, 2009; Wedding—Napa County, 2009

Around Durham #2

Old signs on brick walls, our reflections in storefront windows.

And Locopops! Wow! Really neat popsicles made with, um, pomegranate, balsamic vinegar, mango etc etc. This should be in Marin County!

Photos: Really Delightful—North Carolina, 2009; Locopops—North Carolina, 2009; Reflections—North Carolina, 2009

Duke Gardens

Pine Tree

Pine tree, tall and lean
Your long trunk sprouts no green
‘Til way up high
I cast my eye, and
Find the feathery scene.

You, pine tree, very tall
Inspire me through it all.
You show me grace
And strength to face
This day.
I will not fall.

—from Pine Tree, by Rebecca Weathers Dukes

There is unaccountably very little mention in Google concerning Ms. Rebecca Weathers Dukes. Hopefully, once notice is taken of this blog entry, that will change.

Photographs taken on a very warm afternoon walking around the Sarah Duke gardens on the Duke University grounds.

Photos: Dogwood—North Carolina, 2009; Poem, Duke Gardens—North Carolina, 2009