Now that’s what I call style!

If I do say so myself.  Modeling my brand-new shirt, self-designed (kind of) and custom tailored through my local Colorado Springs haberdashery.  They sent me a Christmastime coupon, and my boss gave me a gift certificate as well, which went a long way towards paying for this shirt.  I’ve worn it a couple times already to events where I needed to dress business-casual.

I’ve used Cinestill 800T a few times, usually indoors with very poor lighting, but I recently bought an 85B filter and am starting to use this film in more all-around capacities.  I’m happy to say that the results have been incredibly promising!

Hat: Stetson
Shirt: Rutledge’s
Jeans: Brave Star
Boots: Alden
Truck: Chevrolet
Dirt: Colorado

Also…it occurs to me Katie that I’ve given you crap for the very thing I’ve just done…shoot some good low-light film outside in rather bright conditions.  Sorry.

Back in the saddle – shooting a black unmetered Nikon F2

I recently had to send my baby back to the F2 Master while it was still under warranty, it was developing just a too many faults.  So after a time spent with no thinking whatsoever, it was nice to know that shooting unmetered comes back without a hitch.

It’s all about remembering the muscle memory.

Western shirts of the 2021 and 2022 seasons

A helpful reminder that if you wear cowboy clothing you technically are ranch dressing.  What could be more American than that?  In fact all these shirts are Made in USA.  These are the ones I’ve bought in the last year or so, as you can see I’m fond of Southwest patterns:

Do you guys have a favorite one? (or more than one?)  Then please tell me.  It’s for science, so please vote!

1-Ruddock
2-Freenote Cloth
3-Rockmount Ranchwear
4-Ruddock
5-Western Aloha
6-Freenote Cloth

Sometimes people like what I do – Jeep tours 2019

I don’t need to be famous, I just want to be loved.

These ones have gotten quite a lot of love over on the IG so far–thanks to my supporters for sharing them.

His other car is still a sleigh

Don’t shoot my foot off if I make a repost, I’m just happy that I was able to shoot him in color between his Summer job and his Winter one!

I’m psyching myself up to go freeze myself outdoors on a tour, hope I make it…

The Nikon F4 used in my photo project work

For some reason I keep hanging heavier and heavier cameras around my neck!  I went from a Pentax Spotmatic to the Nikon F to a few different compact cameras back to the F and then the F2, and now the F4.  In actual use it’s really not that much heavier, and I’ve gotten used to it.  I’ve used three lenses with it, the 28mm f/2.8 AI-s Nikkor, 35mm f/2 AI-s Nikkor, and 85mm f/2 AI Nikkor, the three most modern lenses I own, and I’ve been very happy with the matrix metering so far; there have only been a couple occasions in 5 rolls where the shot I wanted wasn’t exposed properly.  This is one fully-electronic camera that you don’t have to worry about turning on every time you use it, I keep it set to S from the time I take it out in the morning to putting it away at night, and it’s always ready to take fantastic pictures, no drain on the batteries as far as I can tell.

Maybe it’s the updated multicoating of the lenses, maybe the lighting was just better in those few weeks, and maybe I wasn’t necessarily nailing the exposure before, but I’m in love with the look of all of these.  Is this going to supplant my F2s?  No.  The only thing I really have against the Nikon F4 is its bulk and weight but the amount of features you’re getting for that definitely tip the balance in the F4’s favor.  What I will use this camera for is:
-autoexposure-necessary shots: slide film, low-ASA, or any other speed besides 400 with which I’m really not that familiar
-fast-paced shoots where I need a motordrive

Behind the scenes: Scorpion Cowboy headshots

He got the part!  I’d like to think it was all my doing.  Horizon starts shooting today in New Mexico and my friend Duane is there at least as an extra.  No matter what I might tell him when I’m joking around, I think he has a wonderful face.

The Double-X was perfect for the look I wanted in the headshots, but there are some pretty good portraits in here as well I think, with Tri-X; it gives a good comparison seeing both films shot in the same place with the same lighting.  He put me up for a few days after I’d sold my mom’s house and it was just a great experience all-around, we hung out and tried a few things, I had my camera with me the entire time so I definitely got a few more candid things here and there.  The first pic is taken with the Minolta and a few more were included here.  Duane was also kind enough to hold a camera for me so I could see just what I look like when I’m taking pictures.  Originally published here and here but I’ll include it again:

Behind the scenes of the 2022 pre-season meeting

I was commissioned this year to take headshots for the new drivers at AOW, this was me getting warmed up.

It was a great time hanging out and ended up being the last time I took pictures of one of our number.

Expired Kodak BW400CN

This film was on sale at my local camera store, expired between 2006 and 2008.  I decided to give it a try, I mean why not?  So this is about the last week in November and first week and a half or so in December.

It’s not bad stuff.  I shot it sometimes at ASA200 and sometimes ASA100, and think it works well outside: shadow detail can be a bit lacking otherwise.  Also for some reason the film scans always came back really dirty, lots of stuff like dust, etc, on the negatives.  I shot a lot of Ilford XP2 last year and I will say that it’s nice having at least that chromogenic film stock available but I wish that Kodak would bring this back at some point…and also Plus-X.  Shooting the expired stuff is fine for a bit of a change but all my reflexes at this point are for shooting ASA400 film and I don’t really want to change that up too much.  I think I had 6 rolls total and they’re all gone; I don’t plan on getting more.

Scorpion Cowboy: selected headshots

This is the guy (along with his wife, a good friend of my mom’s), that got me into driving jeep tours.  I’ve developed a reputation within the company as the resident photographer.  A few of our drivers are actors or would like to be, and I suppose headshots would be a good first step.

Some taken using the legendary Nikkor-PC 105mm f/2.5, and then I went a bit wider with the AI-Nikkor 85mm f/2.  They’re not all technically perfect as I did often refocus and sometimes didn’t quite hit it, but I’m still pretty proud of how they turned out.  Of course I used movie film to give these a certain cinematic look, and I have to say that Eastman Double-X is just stunning.  I took less formal portraits using Tri-X and it’s fun to compare the different characteristics; honestly I think Double-X will have to be my go-to black & white film for portraits.  Whether it’s the differing amount of silver in the emulsion, the fact that it’s remained virtually unchanged since Kodak introduced it in 1959, or just that it’s formulated for motion pictures instead of stills I’m not sure, but whatever it is this film just has that look and I love it.

Behind the scenes–portraits on Tri-X