Tag Archives: Philly

Streets of Philadelphia … A Visual Diary … Page 37 … Olympus Pen EP-5 … One ShoT pEr ShOOt

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Did ya ever feel like your going against the flow that others do? How about feeling like you’re alone and there are many others around? How about you doubt yourself and what you’re doing? Not a pretty picture huh. Oh, oh. How about your making photos and you’re unsure if others like them.

Shooter, what the hell, you are in my head again. Well, I ain’t a meanin’ to be in yer head as I gotz nuff going on in my own. If you’re feeling any or some or even more of these things, you’re doing good. You just landed in the land of non-complacency. It’s a ruff terrain with little or no real support. No hiding from the real you. Your alone and ya start to wonder why everything is so damn hard and it feels like there’s no reward.

You see all those people marching to the beat of the same drummer? See how comfortable they are, no issues as they are one and all the same. Isn’t that a nice picture..BUT WAIT! Look, closer my friends, alas…there’s a face looking the other way. The HORROR! How out of place this person is. Why are they different? What made them that way? Is that a man, a woman or what?

I get asked a lot from friends etc about, how to stand on their own and see their photos as unique amongst the masses. The land of complacency and mass acceptance swallows up many individual people every second. That hunger that wants to devour us has an insatiable appetite and is coming for you any minute.

Look at the photo…. now imagine your face on that face… take your camera and get the hell out there… You are not alone, but there’s not around…get used to it…

………………………end transmission……………………………………………………………………………………………….

Streets of Philadelphia … A Visual Diary … Page 34 … Ricoh GRII … One ShoT pEr ShOOt

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So I am looking at my catalog in LR to see what’s in there from recent walks. Well, I do that cause I’m too lazy to go out and work. I convince myself that this is work too and it is but should not be used for an excuse not to be out shooting. It’s all part of the process and I enjoy all of it unless I feel lazy. So I decided to head to the Reading Terminal Market to get my lunch. I go to Sang Kee, a Chinese spot that’s about the best anywhere’s.  To get there, I went thru the tunnel and I have been in this a gazillion times. There’s a funky light in there and it’s not very interesting to photograph but yet, I am always making photos in there. I walked thru and passed this window frame as I did  many times. Then all the sudden, I saw a photo in my head.

I don’t know about youse all but it’s Monday and my brain is still on vacation from the weekend. So I can’t really trust anything in my head cause there’s nothing in there to process anything. Ok, so my brains on vacation, what the hell to do? I turned up the power to my heart and let my eye decide on the frame. So I’m looking at the frame and I see this guy walking towards me. He seemed like a normal guy and then I saw myself in the window frame and as he walked to the frame, I said, “hi”. He turned his head and……….CLICK!

It’s a good idea to get back into the one shot a shoot mission. That’s what I should be doing, but not doing and now will be doing…….

Have a blessed journey…… seeya’s shortly…………..

Streets of Philadelphia … A Visual Diary … Page 26 … Street … Finding Direction … Fuji X100s

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Did you ever notice that if you look at a map, you have your starting point and your ending point? Yes, shooter how you gonna screw this up? Good question and I’m a gonna tell ya right now. The points in between the start and finish are the most important points. They are the anchor points and they give us a fixed idea of what the journey is about. We all start the journey of life different, but we all end up the same. The beauty is not in the destination but in the journey itself. That means to be in the here and now.

Points along the way

So we know that the map of our photography has a start point and hopefully a destination and that we reach that destination in good health. But if the journey is more important than the destination, what about the journey? Well, I see it like this. During our travels thru a life with photography, certain milestones or markers make themselves evident. These are points of inspiration or interest that we are drawn to. We see these being borne in our photos.

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Here’re a few points that I have in my photography.

Icons, Shadows, Reflecting, Walk/Drive by Shootings, Light/Shadows, Dreamcatcher, Public Transportation, Human Condition, Isolation, Juxtaposition. Now of course any and all are sometimes working together. The point is, I have a set of guidelines that help me work. You could call these series. I certainly have spent my life so far tinkering with all of these. Why is this important and most important to recognize?

Well, we have enough bullshit distractions going on that we need a lifeline to hold us into the light. You can do as you damn well please but I’d bet there isn’t one photographer from all of time and won’t be for all of time that doesn’t do this. The issue is to be aware of the fact that you are doing it. This doesn’t guarantee you anything but peace of mind especially when you are lost with what you’re doing. We all get lost, tired of the same stuff, bored…but WHALLA!

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If you take thetime to discover what you are doing naturally without realizing you are doing it and make an effort to discover the points in your photographic journey, you will never be bored again. You have a system of working. Looks, it ain’t playtime out there. If you are a camera player and that’s what you do, leave my blog and never come back. The serious readers and shooters here have no time for that shit. They are busy getting shit from me but at least, I have an idea of what I’m talking about.

So, next time you have some time, go into your catalog and especially the processed and published photos. Then look for similar thoughts, feelings whatever. Group them together. Be a hard ass with yourself. This is your life! Respect it, honor it and get it together. Then when the galleries and museums start to call and want an exhibition from you, your organized and dammit…….

grab your camera, open your eyes, smell the exhaust, get your butt out there, your a Street Shooter, is there anything better………..

A Chat With Andre’ the Fuji X100s

03-15-0011-EditShooter, c’mere for a min. Well, I recognize that voice anywhere anytime. I also know Andre’ the Fuji X100s is gonna have his say on something but I don’t know what yet. Listen Shooter, the boys and girl on the shelves are a bit upset by some of your actions. Ya got the Canon EOS M2 on the shelf with flash, lenses. I gotta tellya Shooter, we are all upset by your latest acquisition. Even Penelope the White Ricoh GRD4 is like beside herself. She’s real cute by the way but I can’t calm her down anymore. Sexi little lens cap…mmmmmm.

Now, it’s been decided that The Nikon Coolpix A is now named Walker. This is not a request, we have decided that and end of story. So when you and I go out and it damn sure better be a lot, we are taking Walker the Nikon Coolpix A with us. Once again, this is not a request.

Now tell everybody about today and we will discuss the EOS M2 situation over a glass of Spatlese. later.

Finally a temperature that will allow snow to melt. So I take Andre’ and Walker and load them in the Cosyspeed. Wait for the bus and I feel it getting warmer every minute. Awesome. I can feel my hands and me fingers.

My ears aren’t numb as well as lower extremities and stuff.I set the clocks on the cameras cause Andre told me cause he knew I’d forget. I got my POW/MIA hat on so when I’m talking to Andre’ no one pays me any mind. I get to Market East and as I’m walking thru, I see a guy sitting by himself. I move past him and Andre’ says, you need to work, make this shot work. So I walk back, get Andre’ at the eye, slowly frame, and I mean I’m not hurrying at all. Then I release the shutter. The guy turns to me and laffs. He say’s it’s fuggin’ hot out. I say, well, you dressed for the cold bro’. He laffs and says you crazy mudder fugger. I smile cause he’s right.

I say, what makes me crazy? He says, how old you is? 65. You pay a mortgage? yup. You pay lectric and stuff? yup. He says, I told ya you waz fuggin crazy.

03-15-0012-EditI’m in therapy for years and this guy gets me zero’d in, in a few minutes and tells me I’m crazy and now I believe him.

I wonder if he has office hours. Sometimes I feel disconnected and it’s an awkward feeling until I see what I’m feeling all over the place. People lost in the environment, lost humanity, just a sense of not being in the moment. Well, I don’t suffer from these things cause I’m always aware of the moment whether I am in it or not. Even if not, I’m usually aware that I’m not.

………but, maybe I need to get out again tomorrow with my dear friends, Andre’ the Fuji X100s and Walker the Nikon Coolpix A. Yes, good idea and I’ll continue the conversation with Andre………

……………………………………………………………………………..end transmission………………………………………………………………

 

 

 

 

October 2nd, 2014 … The Legend Of Shioko and Ding The Nikon Coolpix A … Begins (Part 1)

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Well, it’s been a while and still my back has issues that cause discomfort and frustration. Luckily enough today is the day I have my appointment with the Sports Therapist. I heard Dr Shioko left the VA here and went to Washington DC. So I figured, all the dreams are just that, passing fantasies that no longer fulfill an old shooters head and heart.  I got to the VA on time and waited in the waiting area for about 20 minutes. It was sparse and there was only 2 other Vets there and I was in front of them, I thought.

The receptionist called out a mans name and he went into a room. A few minutes later she called out the other guys name and he went into another room. I sat and worked on the iphoney and then I heard a voice. It was a nurse and she asked the receptionist how many more appointments were left. The receptionist said that him, meaning me and then nothing till 1330. It was now 0945.

So the nurse asked me to please step in the room and she did my blood pressure, checked my weight and said, Mr Springer, you lost 35lbs since your last visit. Is this intentional and does your Doctor know about this.

I replied, yes it’s intentional and my Dr’s are monitoring my weight and things. She ask me to sit again. Then as she was walking away, she said, Mr Springer.. Dr Shioko with be with you in a minute. ( ok look, I’m hitting 65 next Wednesday the 8th. It doesn’t take much to excite me and to get my brain completely awake and other parts and things awake also. Needless to say that I was glad the nurse did my blood pressure before this newsflash as the scale doesn’t go high enough to get a reading.)

The door opens, but it doesn’t open like a door in a VA Hospital, it’s opens like Audrey Hepburn comes thru it… there’s a cloud of gentle smoke wrapped around the frame as Dr Shioko passes thru and the angels with gilded wings blow gentle sounds thru the Trumpets from HEAVEN to announce that the Angel of Mercy has entered the scene. Of course she is wearing a white lace gown with Orchards that cover her body as gently as the snow flakes on the morning crocuses at winters end.

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Then, in the heat of the moment, reality sets in and the smoke turns to an illusion that encapsulates everything including my thoughts. Dr Shioko calls my name and ask me to come into the room. I walk in and as gracefully as a swan on a lake she walks over to me and hands me the gown. Please go into the changing room and then come back to the table, I’ll be back in a minute.

Now, Dr Shioko has 7 feet distance to get to the door. I make it to the changing room, get undressed, put the gown on, lock the locker with my stuff in it, come back into the room all in the time she walks 4 feet towards the door. She has 3 feet to go but and I’m cool and sitting down on the table. She looks at me and  smiles.

So I’m sitting on the table and Dr Shioko comes in and stands next to me. She says, Mr Springer, I must leave as there is an emergency I have to attend to. I will give you the choice of having an associate of mine come in and take care of you or I can make another appointment for you tomorrow morning. I asked her what time and she said, 0930.

She asked me if I could help her choose another camera because she feels restricted with the X100s and the viewfinder makes her self conscious making photos. Of course I said I’d be glad to assist and we could talk about things tomorrow. She smiled again and said she’s see me in the morning and that she would make it up to me.

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So Dr Shioko left the room and then this young woman  woman entered and let me tell ya…think Lucy Liu, yup thats right….. ‘m telling ya one damn thing… The VA gets a bad rap from everyone except those that it helps. Here in Philly, with these Doctors, in this Department, The Department id Called Heaven’s Door

I will update tomorrow about the actual treatment  and camera experience….. have a great one and…….

The One Shot Per Shoot Challenge is open to all….send 1 photo and a paragraph about the experience of making it to: streetshooter.us@gmail.com

seeyas tomorrow……….

October 1st, 2014 … The Nikon Coolpix A is Not to be Missed

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Well, I spent a few weeks getting to know Ding, the Nikon Coolpix A and it was very nice. Then I felt the desire to go out with Andre’ the Fuji X100 s. Well, that was a great reawakening and it was wonderful to be be out with my old friend…(even if he screwed with my head on the battery cover dropping off procedure.) All was well with the cameras in the shooter household. The cameras were clean and had charged batteries, they had fresh formatted cards in them and they were happy just resting on the shelf. I took my meds so I was kinds un-edgy, don’t ask Tanya cause she thinks I’m completely nuts… imagine that…hmmmm!

Even Daido the Fuji X20 is just comfortable on the shelf looking and sexi lil’ Penelope the Ricoh GRD4 in white.

So I went to bed to rest for the trip to the VA hospital where they talk to me and give me things to make me feel better. About 0200 I feel something knocking against my head. Tanya was sleeping and Barsik the Cat that’s 1/2 American and 1/2 Russian was sleeping too.

I thought to myself, the 45 is loaded so relax but this doesn’t feel like someone I want to shoot….

then, in a very quiet tone, ever so softly, I heard a voice in me ear I tell ya…. it said…. yo pop, I wanna go back on the street. It’s pitch black like Zone -1. I’m thinking with my brain that came home from vacation so I am working on all 4 cylinders again.

Yo pop, it’s me…. it’s Ding. I wanna go out and work but that funky ass X100s named Andre’ thinks hes the king of the hill….sheeeeeet!

He ain’t gettin’ in no pockets like me…..dang it, you could get Penelope and me in yer pocket……..

STOP! I said, Penelope is a lady and you don’t get to be alone with her in my pocket. Ricoh has enough problems with Ricoh/Pentax we doin’ need no Ricoh/Nikon things ’round here.

So I told Ding the Coolpix A to go back to bed and hi m and I can get to work for a little…. he said, ok pop, I’m gonna rest till you wake me… g’d night.

Now so far everything seems normal, right. I mean I know I ain’t the only shooter around that communicates with his cameras. But ya know… I can’t figure out, how the heck did Ding get from the office, down the hall, jump on the bed, talk with me and then make the hike back?

Fancy firmware I suppose.

So I grabbed Ding and put him in the little pouch that goes on my belt and took an extra battery that I will never need cause the Nikon Coolpix A has great power management. We walked around town and just kinda relaxed and was checking out the sites.

Ding was in my hand and he was reminding me how when I was a real photographer shooting film and bringing him contact sheets to the Museum that I need to always just look for my own stuff and not worry about anything from anyone else.

Then, at that exact moment, well, it was really a few moments later but it’s more interesting to make it sound like an instant revelation…. I see this big azz rat on the sidewalk. So I said to myself, self…lets try to find something interesting with the big rat in center city Philadelphia. I mean, there’s no ratz at all in center city and there’s no ratz in Philly even in City Hall. For real… this is a one in a million opportunity to get a shot of the next Mayor on the street. So Ding was ready and I set the Aperture and Shutter speed and Ding did the ISO. I looked up from behind… and the ears………CLICK!

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Ding was happy because he gets to be a part of the process more so than the other cameras,,,(shhhhhh he thinks he’s special cause he can get from the office to the bedroom and back without help…..)

Well we walked around and we snapped a few pics just cause we wanted to and cause he needs the exercise. Then he said to me… “Shooter, yeah you pop, don’t even think about pulling that One Shot Per Shoot crap with me…..” I started to get a little peeved, is that a word even? I told him, Ding, this is about me and MAYBE you making photos. I like talking to you and even my Shrink thinks it might be ok and we talk about that each session, but I need to concentrate and your bugging me.

I realized I hurt his feelings. I saw the lens sloooowly go back into the body and the lights go off. The screen was dark. So, being the Viet Nam Vet that I am I found a corner that no one was near and I apologized to Ding. I mean I damn near kissed his but… but couldn’t find it anyway.

Then, Ding came back to work… that cool whirl sound and the lens popped out quickly and with substance like any ,an..uh…uh…..sorry Judy.

He was ready, we walked around and we came upon the Dilworth Plaza Etiquette School of Walking with a book on your head. This student was doing really well and I made a photo or her progress but I soon realized she had not attended the nice language in the open space with many people around class. She spit out a few choice words of which most I heard and have adopted into my arsenal of vocabulary but there was a few she said that stumped me and even some people around were wondering what she was saying.

Anyway, I’m heading out again tomorrow for a few hours and Ding is the only Kat coming along for the walk.

Have a good one and The Inspired Eye Issue 14 is hot off the press. Also, I’ll be posting more post on the IE Blog for the shooters that sent in the photo and info. It’s a nice turnout and I’m damn proud and happy to know youse alls good peoples….

hopefully, youse can feel likewise for me…….. shooter, sayin’ good night Johnboy……………………………………………………………………

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 28th, 2014 … The Fuji X100s … My Partner On The Street

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So, I went out with Tanya so she could shop for her family. I had my Harley Denim Jacket on cause Fall is here and I’m not falling for that Fall stuff. When you leave it’s nice and warm and when ya have to head back, well… it’s cool. I’m too old to Fall for that stuff I tell ya, I’m too smaat. Andre’ said he wanted to go along just to get out of the house and I quickly agree.

Ohhh sorry, Andre’ is my Fuji X100s. He said he was tired of being in the house cause I was taking Ding, the Nikon Coolpix A everywhere. So I put Andre’ in the Harley jacket inner pocket and he’s happy cause he’s riding a Harley.

We get to Neshaminy Mall  and Tanya shops, I sit. Tanya shops I sit.  I sit, Tanya shops… endless cycle of well being. I’m sitting on the bench just checking things out and all the sudden………….

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……. this young woman that I think is around 30-ish is walking towards me and I look at her and think….nah, I’m never that lucky…… well low and behold…. she floats thru the crowd and gently like a Dove, lands on the bench right next to me. She turns to me and says, “excuse me sir, do you know anything about cameras?”

Well at this exact moment, my faith in The Lord and in mankind is restored. I turn to her and said, I know a little, what’s the problem? So she reaches into her handbag and pulls out a Canon S110. She says, it won’t come out. (Yes guys, that’s exactly my thoughts). So he hands me the camers and her fingers gently rub against mine. (At this point, I have solved, ebola, end all wars, cured the economy and everything that plagues the world.)

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So I turn the camera on and sure enough the lens will not come out.  She’s obviously distraught and I really feel for her, no really! She tells me her boyfriend is sill and he can’t make it come out.

(enter shooter the hero) I look closely and can see that something is wedged in between the lens barrel. So I asked her if she had a hairpin and she says no, all I have are these needles I bought for my mom’s sewing machine. (Thank you LORD for small favors) I take a needle and gently but forcefully, stick it in and work to pry the thing out. I manage to get it out and see it was a piece of salt from a soft pretzel. The camera turns on and the lens pops out and she says to me, you made it come out, how can I ever thank you?

As she is sitting there looking at me and smiling, Tanya is walking towards me. So the young woman stands up and thanks me very much and starts to walk away. Tanya looks at her and then turns to look at her from the rear just as I am doing and then gets right in front of me.

I immediately told her what happened and she say’s, I wanna walk down to Macy’s. I stand and walk with her thru the mall and as we get into the mall traffic, she reaches behind me and pats my bum. I don’t know what I did or how I did it but I averted another Russian American Cold War in the house.

But none of this is the point of the story. See, when we got home, I took Andre’ the Fuji X100s out of the Harley jacket pocket and I felt something still in the pocket. I put Andre’ down on the table and reached into the pocket again and GASP!!!!!!!!!

I saw the battery cover in my hand. NOOOOO!!!!!!! you don’t belong in my hand, you belong on Andre’.

So I went up to the office and looked at things thru my Schneider loupe. After about 10 minutes I manage to get the cover back on. I thought that maybe I should contact service but figured, I still have 7 months of warranty left so I’ll just wait it out. I did nothing to provoke this issue. It just fell off and I don’t know why. The issue is, if it falls off on the street, well, that won’t be pretty.

So I try to keep my pinky finger against the cover while working. It’s very upsetting but the camera is the most amazing camera and if I had to use it without the door, I would. It’s that good…..

Please remember, The One Shot Per Shoot is still active and you really should join the many that are participating.

Good Sunday to youse alls good peoples….. shooter out……………………………………

September 18th, 2014 … The One Shot Photo Project Begins … Come One, Come All

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I’m making a challenge to myself and youse all shooters. The one shot photo project is just what it sounds like. One photo per shoot. Not one a day, a week, a month or a year. Simply put, one shot for every shoot you do. It’s up to you to decide how many photos you make CasinoinUS on a shoot but only one can be submitted per shoot. You don’t have to do this, you know it and I know it. This is something I learned from Ding McNulty and it has proved to make me focus on my work with a clear and clean vision. The thing is, it helps me to really commit to my images because I can only choose 1. I slowed down a lot back in the 70’s thru all my film decades. Now with digital, it’s like overabundance is par for the course.

So, if your interested, submit a photo under the One Per Shoot Project, send it to me by email (streetshooter.us@gmail.com) along with a statement about the photo and the experience of making it. A paragraph or so is cool. You can do this more than once soooo be awake and alert and find that ONE SHOT.

09-14-0162-EditIf  your up to doing this, then here’s what will happen. You will be put on the Inspired Eye Blog and have a chance of getting into the Inspired Eye Magazine.

The idea behind this is to create energy to work but not to have to make it a burden. This will actually tune your vision and help to eliminate boredom and loss of direction. If you make a good effort doing this, you will find a new strength in your work and vision.

I hope that youse will partake in this project as I am committed to doing it again, and again.. and again……

……………………………………………………end transmission, thanks again Ding………………………………………………………………………….. shooter out……………..

September 15th, 2014 … Andre’ The Fuji X100s … Meets … Ding The Nikon Coolpix A

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Look, don’t get me wrong, ok. I really do love the X100s and it provides a wonderful working experience.

What, but everyone knows that already. Ok, ok! Andre’ is upset because I called the camera X100s and not it’s proper name, Andre’. He also said, “Look shooter,  everyone calls you Don or shooter. No one calls you the human or photographer and you wouldn’t be without me anyway.” So now I get it. Andre’ the Fuji X100s is jealous

09-14-0053-EditSee, word on the camera shelf is that there’s a new kid on the block. Yes, it’s very true. The Nikon Coolpix A has taken up residence on the current camera shelf. The new camera has been named Ding, after Kneeland Ding McNulty.

Ding mentored me for a while and gave me valuable life lessons and how to youtubemp3now.com have photography fall in love with me. He wasn’t concerned about my love affair with photography but wanted to make sure that photography and I had a life long symbiotic relationship. So I decided to name the Nikon after him. So of course Andre’ is upset and kinda jealous because he thinks he will get less street time than he used to get. Nothing could be further from the truth. See, both Andre’ and Ding will be out with me always starting Wednesday. Till then, Ding and I are reacquainting our selves as it’s been decades since we spent time together, at least on the physical plane.

09-14-0152-EditSee, for me it used to be a 35mm lens on my M Leicas. The when the digital imaging made cameras that worked like cameras, it seemed that 28mm was the preferred focal length. I still lean to the 35mm FOV but the 28mm FOV has a place embedded in my brain’s firmware. Well, now that my brain is back from vacation, I will have to update it’s firmware to the Nikon;s UI and FL and combine that with Andre’, the Fuji X 100s.

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There are thing for me to write about and I am excited again to feel visual freedom once again. Ding is proving to be a worthy companion and I hope in due time that Andre’ and Ding will get along.

At any rate, I’ll be posting more for the next few weeks as the discovery and challenges arise working with these two cameras.

Shooter Out……………………………

September 1st, 2014 … Fuji X100s Light Duty

08-14-0419-EditIt’s Labor Day Weekend and I’m doing little to labor myself. Had to go to the shore cause my friend Joe died a few weeks ago and I had to secure the house and things. So after I set the alarm secured.onlinegambling2014.com code and organized a little, we went to the Boardwalk in Atlantic City.

I just made a few snaps cause I wasn’t in the mood for much of anything. Anyway, her’s a few photos that were made with the FujiX100s.

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Ya know, color is really nice with this camera but I still don’t see or feel it, I’m kinda trusting the camera to get it right and it does.

08-14-0424-EditWell, I guess I’l go do the Bar B Que for Tanya and get back to photography tomorrow…..

 

Seeya’s, ………………………………. shooter, exit stage left…………………………………………………………