…..nay, I’m ok, it’s just a mental thing…you won’t understand. Seen my VA Shrink called to check up on me. I mean he’s a good Doctor and even better cause he kinda understands me. So, he asked me how I was getting along and I told him I’m fine, taking my meds, easy on coffee but my cameras need help. He asked me to explain soooo….see Doc, Covid-19 has me home bound. I’m on lock down. I get out to the backyard and that’s the end of the world for me. My cameras are feeling lock down also.
I have 5 cameras on duty. There are others that are sleeping in their boxes that basically are coffins because I forget about them and that makes them dead. Back to life and the living. The new kid on the block is Walt, the Fuji X100V. New camera and old important name for me. I treat all my cameras as equals because they all have different qualities that support the photography we do together.
Beings a new guy, Walt the Fuji X100V has ways to attract me and keep me hypnotized to keep using him.. The other cameras tell him about the streets and how they get out and work. Walt, the Fujix100V has never been off the homeland. Things are so dry here on the Homeland, I’m looking for Carrie.
Part truth is, a committed shooter should be able to make photos at all times, regardless of a virus etc. I do believe this to be true. I also believe, that the landscape you are in influences the energy you can muster up.
Maybe the thing is, not to feel and live the restrictions we place on ourselves. I don’t know. All I can do is work at home and dream of the streets again. I have always said that street is another term for life. That should mean that you plug your eyes into anything and see photos. I think for the most part that is true. What gets be is the monotony of being in the same space day after day. Funny thing is, I can walk the same streets for years and never feel this way. 
I notice many friends out on the street making photos. They post them all the time. I wonder if they feel better about the situation and i wonder if they consider the damage that could be done to others and themselves. I suppose it’s the “to each his/her own” thing. I think about this stuff because we are mostly living it. I get to work a little when I fee so inspired, not very often either. I been told my many that I should see things as if seeing it for the first time. That’s sooo much bull-dinky, I discount it immediately. What I try to do is, fall in love with my life and all the things that share it with me.
I hope everyone finds the inspiration to carry on the good fight. It’s not about winning or losing but about the battle to survive.
We should “endeavor to persevere” as Lone Watie taught Josey Wales.
Stay in, stay safe and love everyone enough to wear a N95 or similar.
Wonderful and moving words Don. And great snaps, as ever. Stay safe!
Thanks Doug, take care of you and yours…
Outlaw Josey Wales – great movie! I´ve been having super hard finding photos for months, (years …). I make one or two almost every day, with my cell, or the digital Sony or the old Yashica. To make all 36 frames to finally be able to send in the role for development so that you can look at how wonderful and lousy and out of focus the photos are, takes weeks. Well… As long as we all don´t start coughing too hard, I guess we´ll be alright. Stay safe.
Tommi, dunno brother. I see many Tommi photos posted on the net and many are excellent, excellent because they are personal observations and statements. Ya know, I went to my darkroom and cleaned a little. It’s basically dust proof and for 20 years I haven’t used it. I miss it but will never use it again. My Leica V35 Enlarger cries at the site of me. My chemicals I have amassed thru the decades, just sit and wait too be fondled and opened. Ahhhh those were the days but alas, my digital processing pleases me enough to continue it. My digital cameras have become friends and maybe even family.At any rate, after an hour in the darkroom, I cam upstairs to my pc and checked hundreds of photos in the catalogs….. ohhh how sweet it is….
stay safe my brother. For me, it’s good breathing knowing your someplace other than here….
Don, you are truly kind …The Yashica analog thing – I just turned in my second bnw role for development, and loaded the camera with my first role of Kodak color film. I have n o t h i n g but love for digital photographing and the speed of processing, but the “organic” feel of the analog photo, and that one doesn´t have to tweek them too much i PP, since they look fine from the start. In my case it´s more of a hybrid thing, because I get the negatives scanned, and then worked on – a little – on the computer. I guess I´ll do both analo and digital for awhile. My main problem is I´d like to find more photos to make. Or maybe I´m just whining. Thank you kindly for your very warm response, Don.
Tommi, I get it. I did film for over 45 years. I loved it and still have my darkroom. For me there are 2 major things that matter to me. The first is the camera as I am very particular about cameras. The second is the image. It matters not about process because that is a variable to explore but just a means to the image. I now prefer digital not because of the ease or time constraints. I like digital because the cameras are excellent and the images please me in a way I can’t describe bit I live.
Take care brother and know that I always watch what your up to, because it matters to me..
I can imagine how constraining this must be for you Don. I took one of my cameras for a walk around a local park today. Just not the same as street shooting. Waited all winter for spring to get here and now this virus thing. Maybe I’ll get in the car and drive around the streets and shoot from the car (while stopped) and see what happens. Anyway, take care and stay safe. Hopefully we’ll all be able to get out on the streets again soon – maybe with a mask. At least our cameras don’t have to wear a mask.
Thanks Dave. It’s a taxing life at the moment. The internal steam to let loose and go out is building steadily. I think we are on day 40 but I stopped counting a while ago. Hopefully in the near future we can get out to the new standard of life as I don’t believe the old standard works anymore.
Peace, stay safe
Stay safe, Don! Greetings!
Thanks Pavel, you do likewise.
Maybe bring you back in the Inspired Eye magazine again.
Let me know.
Haven’t checked your page in a little while, it’s good to get back to your characterful style and great images. Glad you’re pondering and writing during this time!
Thanks my friend, not easy. I hope all is well with you and yours.