My First Month with Film

So...I am one month into my film experiment and I thought I'd take some time to share some images and some initial impressions.  

First, I love it. Love it. Love it. Love it. I love the feel of the images. I love the look of the images. I love slowing down a bit. I love finishing the roll followed by the mystery of waiting to see the images. I've shot several different films already and I love them all. My favorites being Tri-X 400 and Portra 400.

Second, I hate it. I can't stand that I it takes so long to get through a roll of film. In my first several rolls I frequently want to switch back and forth between black & white and color films. I'm sure some would say just shoot color and convert digitally to black and white while others may say you should only shoot black & white. I like both. 

Third, I find it interesting that in the past month, I have printed more images than the last 2 years combined. That just isn't right. Seriously, I've shot less than 500 images on film in 2012 and something like 40,000+ digital images in 2010 & 2011 and I've got more to show for those 500 than the previous two years combined.

Anyway, those are my initial impressions. I'm still going forward with this project because I believe it is making me a better photographer.

I thought I'd also share a few thoughts on my Bessa R4A and 21mm Cosina Voigtlander lens. This is my first forray into a rangefinder camera. Overall, I am very pleased with the kit. While it took me a bit to get used to the focus method of the dual rangefinder images becoming one, I have gotten a handle on it and have grown accustomed to it. In fact, I really like it. The Bessa functions well. The only thing I've noticed is that I struggle to find the AE lock button on the back. I think I will add a little mine grip/texture to it. I also find that I'm still trying to figure out how to meter the overall image when set in A. A few of my images have come across pretty dark.

The only other thought I have is about the 21mm f4 Cosina Voigtlander lens. It is very, very sharp. The quality is very good. The focus action is so smooth and I like the stepped aperture ring. My only comment here is that it doesn't focus close enough for how I shoot wide angle. I like to get close to subjects and I am finding that I can't quite get close enough. It isn't a huge deal, but it is noticable as I've had to step backwards frequently so I can get the camera in focus. I guess I've trained myself a bit differently and it's taking some time to retrain. I may give a try to something like a 25 or 28mm. We'll see.

Now....enough talk. How about some pictures? 

 

And this last images goes out to my friend Kid Riemer who's racing Arrowhead 135. Go get 'em Kid! Good luck to all racers!

One month of film down, 11 more to go!

Snow

Well....I rode the MN River Valley again yesterday morning before work. The snow was almost gone and the trail was getting slick. I'm bummed we don't have snow because riding my Mukluk in the snow is one of my favorite things to do.

So, since we now have no snow I am dreaming of snow. Last night, I looked back over some old snow images and ran across the one above. It was so cold on that day that the snow was like concrete and I could ride anywhere. In fact, I took a much shorter route back across the field rather than follow the snowmobile trail. Call me crazy, but I am really looking forward to experiencing this again.

In other fatbike news, I took my Mukluk Ti apart last night. I figured since we have no snow, I better take this chance to tear it down. It was making some funny noises and needed some care. I took my Surly crank & spider apart and cleaned it, greased bolts and put it back together. I pulled my Hope stainless bottom bracket out as well and wiped it down. That's all it needed as it is still perfectly smooth. I also put new brake pads in my trusy Avid BB7s. Then, rather than re install them on the Mukluk Ti, I put them on another frame.  Yep...Gonna give a Mukluk 2 prototpye frame a try for a bit. This will give me some time to play with the Mukluk Ti in a few other configurations.

The Muk 2 should be finished today and hopefully I can ride it the snow soon. Should be looker. Look for the complete build later this week or early next week.

Friday - Back at it

Last Friday I took a walk in the woods. I took the above photo. While it isn't the greatest composition, I do like the color of the sky. I could see it coming and I knew the color would pop. I did not have a pre planned place in mind as I was on a new trail. I had just a couple of minutes to find a clearing in the woods. Sometimes you take what you've got, or can get, and make the best of it. That's what I did.

Speaking of taking what you've got, I am heading back to the trail on my Mukluk today. After a full month off the bike, I am going to pedal my fatbike in the snow tomorrow. We'll see how far I go. All depends on how I feel. I'm just happy to get out. I am also bringing my good camera. Winter time makes me carry my camera differently while on the bike. I carry it in a pack behind my back to keep it warmer and out of the biting cold wind. Given that fact, I just as well carry my big camera with the larger battery. 

I'm really anxious to get out on the bike. More so than taking pictures. This week has been monumental in a number of amazingly great ways. From what I can tell, this may go down in history as one of my most memorable Decembers ever. Seriuosly, it is that good. I really need to get back at it on my bike to assist in processing all these things. I can't wait to feel that cool air and hear the fat tires rolling through the snow.

That's all I got for the week. I sure hope you all have a great weekend planned.

Ride your bike! Take some pictures!

Photo Friday - Fall Riding

Fall keeps hanging on here and this week has been quite possibly the nicest weekend ever here in Minnesota. Too bad I've been sick. Regardless, it's incredible out there. Don't miss it.

Have a great weekend folks.

Ride your bike! Take some pictures!

One Shot Challenge

Lately, I've been thinking about photography and the experiences or events that I like to shoot, share and chronicle. As I think about a new event or look back over images from a recent trip or photo session, I like to find a single image that captures the essence and conveys a message. That is the constant challenge for me with regards to photography. It's also a constant challenge for me because I generally take these photographs while riding my bicycle. The photos I like the most are the ones where I am also moving and experiencing the same things as the subject matter. Because I am often times riding along side, I am shooting one handed and there are no second takes.

There are days where it is easier than others. The light, the subject, the location, and my equipment are all just right. There are times I can't pick a single one because I didn't get the shot I want or I have several that are close, but not just right. Then there are days where a single one stands out for one reason or another. Today is one of those days for me. Truthfully, last Friday morning was perfect in everyway and I could have picked about 10 different images that tell a pretty good story. In my reviewing of the images it came down to 2 images. But in the end, the above image stood out from the rest. Bikes. Friends. Sunrise. Gravel. Twisty roads. For me, this image says all that and more.

Ben and I had an amazing ride out in the country. We rolled out of town rolling on new roads and found some amazing landscape as we rolled in and out and up and down the Cannon River valley. It was simply incredible. The perfect fall morning. The crisp air and pristine light also really helped.

 Thanks Ben. Can't wait to find more roads like this.

Settling back in

This past week I settled back into being at home. I pretty much put down the bike and rested. It was glorious. By Friday I was itching though. We had a group mountain bike ride in the afternoon, but I also snuck in a few miles on my own in the wee hours of the morning. My El Mariahci ti felt good.

In many ways this was a reality check and a reaquantance with the land that I love. The reality check was that I am not in the mountains of Utah nor the beaches of Alaska. I was home on the flat land. I didn't pedal too fast nor too hard. I took time to look around, explore and just breath.

After a bit of farm road exploration in the corn and soybeans, I determined a route. It is hunting season here and as a result, I had to stay clear of the wildlife area I wanted to explore. That didn't matter to me. I was out and about. I also knew I'd be rolling by a few old barns and corn cribs I like to shoot.

I've shot this corn crib so many times. I still love it. I've shot it in every season. One of these days I'll do a little photo series on it as it is a good example of shooting a subject in different light and in different conditions.

Anyway, I'm settled back in and I've got to get to work. Hope you all have a great week planned.

Home from Europe

It was an intense week of travel, work and adventure in Europe. Europe by bike is awesome and I'll write more about that later. It's holiday here and I'm going to spend time with my family. I will however share my favorite image from Europe. I took it the morning of my last day in Europe. I had ridden to Friedrichshafen before sunrise to catch the first ferry of the day so I could catch the train to Zurich and fly home.

This picture may not be that great to others, but for me it represents both the beauty of Lake Konstanz and peace I get when I return home.  

It is holiday here and just like the image, I plan to have a peaceful day and enjoy my family. Hope you do too.

Friday Ride with Ben

I snuck in one more killer ride last week. It was a great week and I could have ingnored Friday and just commuted to work. However, it had been quite a while since Ben and I have done a morning ride. It didn't hurt that the weather was going to be perfect. Ben and I were both riding new Salsa Casseroll builds. Ben's is a bit more swanky than mine. Mine doesn't fit exactly right either as mine is a returned development sample frame from someone just a bit taller than me. It's not my size, but the price was right (free to test).  

Anyway, we were in fact treated to a perfect morning. Coffee. Bikes. Friendship. Gravel. Bikes. Laughter. Coffee. Then off to work. That's a great Friday AM.

Enjoy your Monday and your week. Here a few last pics I like.

 Thanks Ben! I needed that. Can't wait until our next morning ride.

Alaska - Sun up. Sun down.

Anyone who calls themselves a photographer, whether a pro or an enthusiast, knows that the hours before and after sun up & sun down make your images better. Well, I think Alaska has got to be one of those special places that give you many hours of this amazing light and almost endless viewpoints and landscapes to enjoy and capture . Part of this may be simply the angle of the sun and the path it takes across the Alaska sky, but in many cases the "special" light lasted for what seemed like forever.  Here are a few shots taken during those special hours from my recent trip to Alaska. Hope you enjoy.

Sun up. Sun down. I'm convinced Alaska has better light than anywhere I've ever been too and that it lasts for hours. I miss it already and can't wait to one day experience it again.

Hang On

Self Portrait

The roller coaster ride has begun. I'm in the lead car only partially strapped and it's just cresting a giant roller! The ride has officially begun. I am heading into both known and unkown. Alaska. Germany. Montana. Nevada. My posting will be inconsistent and all over the place. It will be dictated by time and internet coverage. Hang on. We are in for a wild ride.