Deliberate Photography

We are now living in the digital age. The most recent official convert: television. All stations are now broadcast in digital formats versus the old analog format. This really is no surprise here, and I think that the conversion of television into a digital format is a good move. Not many of us like to sit down to watch our favorite show and be continually interrupted by the fuzzy channels. There are a number of other great transitions into the digital age – cell phones, GPS systems, vehicle technology (Ford’s MySync for example), and of course, digital cameras.

But are the digital cameras really a great transition? Cameras are smaller now with higher resolution capabilities, built-in sensors and facial recognition technology, easy connectivity to any computer for easy transfer of photos from camera to computer to email or website. Prices have come down tremendously for an everyday digital camera, but even with all of this, are they really better?

When I was growing up, I loved photography; obsessively. I still do. My dad had a Pentax K1000 35MM SLR camera that he purchased when he was in his late 20’s or early 30’s from a pawn shop. A number of my childhood pictures were taken with this camera, and the shots are tremendous. It is a heavy camera, built out of metal and wrapped in leather. It is all mechanical – no computer chips, no sensors; all manual. It is a beautiful camera and it produces the most wonderful sounds – clicking, swishing, spinning, snapping.

My love for this camera prompted me to purchasing one on eBay. For $75 I purchased the exact Pentax K1000 35mm SLR with a zoom lens, camera bag, lens cleaner, original instruction book, lenses and more. The camera works perfectly, and I have been very pleased with it. After learning the ropes, and experimenting with film speeds, and lighting levels, I finally got the operations of the camera down to a “T” and then realized that the most beautiful pictures come on film.

A few summers ago, I decided, after much debate, that I was going to take my Pentax on vacation with us and use that camera for the majority of my photos. I was a little apprehensive about this for several reasons: film is expensive to develop, I could have ruined my pictures and not even know it and only realize what had happened after returning from vacation – unable to take another picture to compensate and it was cumbersome to carry around at times! But, I took it anyway and used 10 rolls of film and spent $65 developing the film. I was not disappointed with the results of the film!

Ouray, Colorado – where we vacationed, is a beautiful mountain town with stunning mountain views, hiking and off-roading trials, fishing, and many photo opportunities. Of course, during the summer months it is very bright outside and as a result, the photos have a beautifully modern-vintage look about them; something that you cannot capture on a digital camera. They are slightly grainy sometimes, and beautifully clear in others. It evokes a sense of warmth and personal feeling to the photos that digital cameras cannot replicate without digital retouching. You can take a look at some of my pictures from my this vacation here, taken with my Pentax.

Most recently, I purchased a Canon Rebel XTi SLR, and am quite happy with that purchase overall. However, I feel that I am unskilled at using all of the features – it is overwhelming to manage a simple picture task with such a machine. I find that I keep it in automatic mode most of the time and hardly ever use the manual features. My Pentax is not like that. It is simple, intuitive, and simple, and around here, simplicity is the ultimate sophistication!

So, back to the question – are digital cameras really better? Yes and no is my personal opinion. They have their place in the world right along side the wonderful film cameras do. There is no anticipation what the photo is going to look like and they provide easy “point-and-shoot” capabilities, and are generally a lot smaller than film cameras providing easy storage in a pocket, purse or backpack. But I think that film cameras are just as important to the photography world as well and we shouldn’t discount their capabilities! Any person can take a “good” or even “excellent” picture with a “point-and-shoot”, but it takes practice and skill to use a film SLR and as a result, I use it when I want to be creative, to capture the right moment and mood, and to just have fun and revel in the memories of film!

What is your preference? Let me know – leave a comment!

A Love Affair

I have to admit, I am in love! There are many things that I love to death, like camping, fishing and other manly things, but there are just some things that I just have a special connection with, that feel like they are in your bones; like it was meant to be. I have two things in my life-like that: Apple and Ford. Yup, I said it! FORD!

Ford is one of those companies that I have always been rooting for, whose products I loved and dreamt of purchasing one day. Today, I just could not be happier with this company! The love affair started when I was a kid and all through my childhood. When I was little my mom drove a navy Ford Pinto. It didn’t have AC and in the Arizona heat was a beast to drive in, but we have a lot of good memories in that car (laughing, singing and more). My grandparents have a Mercury vehicle (of the Ford brand so all is well), and growing up, we had a slew of other vehicles from Ford including a Ford station wagon, Econoline conversion van, Taurus, and my first car, a 1989 Mercury Grand Marquis Station Wagon (a family vehicle, gifted to my grandparents and re-gifted to me)! You could say that my family loves Ford products.

Not only that, but this company has been financially viable (for the most part) and was able to recoup market share without accepting government funds, had a record December with 33% increase in sales over last year, and set in the black in 2010! Their products have always been more stylish and had a higher quality than Chevy and other GM products, and how can you not support a genuine US of A company?

The North American Auto Show started this week, and I am always anxious to see what will be unveiled from the various auto makers. After reviewing some of the new cars, I saw that the much rumored, next-generation global Ford Focus was revealed! I have read about and tracking information on this car for several months and was very excited to see that it has finally been revealed!

Now in case you don’t know, I drive a 2005 Focus, and I love this car! It has great gas mileage, fun to drive, easy to maintain and, is of course, a Ford! So, when I saw the new Focus, I was blown away! I think that this is going to be a stellar car with great technology and upgrades, and when combined with the new Ford Fiesta, will help to increase Ford’s market share even more!

My love affair with a US automaker may sound funny, but I just cannot bring myself to love another company (aside from Apple) the way I love Ford! I am rooting for this company, and I think that they are going to do very well over the next few years! Keep up the great work Ford!

So tell me, do you have any companies or products that you just have a “special place” in your heart for that just cannot be filled by another? Let me know…leave a comment!

2010 Goals

Each year, millions upon millions of people create resolutions for themselfs to ring in the new year. Each year, millions and millions of people fail at maintaining their resolutions and seeing them through to the end of the new year. I am one of those people, but I am to change this year.

While I set no formal resolutions prior to 2010 like I usually do, I have come up with some items that I would like to change in the new year; items that are not related to previous resolutions that failed (at least for the most part). For example, each year I resolve to become physically fit, working out 3 times a day. Well, as we all now, this particular resolution almost never gets met. Just ask all the years starting with the year 2000; I have not kept my end of the bargain on that one! Instead, I am focusing on more specific, tangible goals which will aim to make me healthier and happier in 2010 by simplifying my life and resolutions.

So, I have made some simple resolutions that I believe, along with my life changes planned for this year (getting married, moving etc.) will prove to be a great life changing year in 2010. I wanted to share just a few with you!

• No more soda!
• Eat healthier (more farm-fresh meats and veggies; join a food coop and buy from farmer’s markets in season).
• Be physically active at least 30 minutes a day (this could include working out at the gym or just taking a bike ride or walk).
• Be more creative (take more pictures, use my film camera at least once a month, draw sketches of whatever you want, build something).
• Grow my mind (begin working on crossword puzzles – at least one a week; read at least 30 minutes a day; read the Bible in a year; journal).
• Sleep at least 8 hours a night.
• De-clutter, organize and plan my finances & pay off debts.
• Disconnect from technology as much as possible.
• Simplify my clutter and life of “stuff” for a more stress-free life.

These are just some of my resolutions, but I think that they are very good and very basic. This year, my goal is “simplification.” I really aim to simplify everything about my life so that I will have reduced stress, a better attitude, and a positive outlook on life. So, if you have not yet set any resolutions for 2010, either because you are too tired or just know you will fail, re-evaluate your options. Think in simple terms, and make one of your resolutions be “simplification.” You will be a better and happier person because of it!

Goodbye, Hello!

I wanted to write a poem for you, so I am writing this; “2009: A Year in Review!”

It was a good year, full of fun and enjoyment, but I am still suffering from underemployment. I graduated January to not much fanfare, the economy sunk like a bear on a chair! But persistence is winning and I am still swimming, so wish me some luck because I am no lame-duck!

OK, this rhyming is really hard, so I am going to just write a regular post from here!

2009 was a great year, but I am really looking forward to 2010, and not only because it is an even number year! On June 20 I will be getting married to my beautiful fiance Laura Schmidt! Not only that, but I will be making my first international trip, hopefully purchasing a home, and you guessed it…camping and off-roading! I live through the winter to camp and off-road in the summer! I just cannot get it out of my mind!

Life surly has changed from just a few years ago. I think back to December 1999, the turn of the century. I was living in Queen Creek, Arizona, getting ready to enter third quarter of freshman year at Queen Creek High School, and life was so different then than where it is now. I was not yet driving; I didn’t have a girlfriend or significant other; I didn’t ever imagine that I would be living in another state or even being a Magna Cum Laude graduate from college!

Fast-forward ten years, and I am now planning on spending New Years Eve with my fiance, in Colorado as a college graduate with drinks that I am legal to now drink in celebration of the new year! Life has a funny way of mixing things up!

I am really excited to see what 2010 has in store for me and my soon-to-be-wife! I know that we are both really excited for the new year to begin. It is like opening a present except it all happens in slow motion!

To celebrate the new year, I wanted to share two videos with you! I have come to realize that it is never really the end of the year without JibJab’s “Year in Review” video, and I have to admit, I was a little disappointed with the 2009 year in review. But, none the less, it is still funny and worth viewing so, here you go! Happy New Year to everyone!

My Transitional Christmas

Christmas is my favorite holiday and time of year! I love the snow, the decorations, the smell of the Christmas tree, Christmas parties, egg nog, cookies and family. Unfortunately, this year, I just cannot seem to get into the full on Christmas spirit that I am used to.

It seems like Christmas has come and will be going much too quickly this year. When time moves fast, there is little time to prepare and enjoy. I feel like that is the case this year. 2009 has also been a very busy and life changing year for me. Getting engaged, planning a wedding, moving out of my parents house; all have probably aided in my not feeling like this is Christmas. While the decorations are up at my parents house, I am only there on the weekends to share a meal and a movie. Throughout the rest of the week I am at work and living with my roommates who have not done much to decorate for Christmas; no tree, to garland, Christmas plates or the like. It is not very festive at my house.

Although we had a lot of cold and snow during the first week of December, we have not had any snow since. Snow tends to be one of the staples of Christmas in Colorado, at least in my mind. When there is no snow, it doesn’t feel festive. You have to keep in mind, I am from Arizona where we did not get snow in the Phoenix metro area so snow represents winter and Christmas in my mind! Also, my record player is at my parents house, unplugged and in an area where it cannot be heard if it was played. I love to come home and put on a Christmas LP, but I don’t have room at my current place so that is not an option. This has also played a role in my Christmas funk!

I am also very much looking forward to next Christmas when I will be a married man and able to decorate my own home! Laura and I have already planned on going to the after Christmas sales and getting some decorations and fun trinkets for deep discounts to furnish our home with festive decor starting the day after Thanksgiving! I have always wanted to have a house that hung the lights outside, had garland all through the house, had Christmas dishes and table dressings, where the house smelled of firewood and fresh-baked cookies and hot apple cider! I cannot wait to not only be decorating a house of my own next year, but decorating it with my wife! So, perhaps I have been too excited about this future celebration and as a result have totally overlooked this Christmas.

At church we have been talking about the “Advent Conspiracy” and while I have been enjoying the messages and what the movement is trying to accomplish, I feel like it is either too early or too late in the year for advent. I cannot seem to get my emotions in check enough to get into the Christmas spirit. Also this year, I have not watched all of my normal Christmas movies: A Christmas Story, It’s A Wonderful Life, Elf, How the Grinch Stole Christmas; it has been much too busy.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I am glad it is Christmas. I am certainly no Ebenezer Scrooge, I am so happy this time of year! But with all that is going on, it does not seem like Christmas. The sad part is that it is going to be here in a few days, and then be gone for another whole year and I am afraid that I will have missed it!

I was talking with my friend Josh today and he was saying that last year was like that for him too. He was living in Virginia and on December 27, drove from Virginia to Colorado to start a new life. He had packed all of his belongings before Christmas which resulted in him not feeling very festive and put a damper on his Christmas spirit. But this year, newly married and settled in Colorado, he and his wife have fully embraced the season and have decorated their apartment, got a real Christmas tree, and are enjoying each others company. That is what I am hoping will happen for next year!

I kinda feel like the Grinch stole Christmas this year, but next year, I am hoping that I can be as enthusiastic as Clark Griswold in National Lampoons Christmas Vacation. He is so excited about Christmas and wants everything to be just right! Next year, next year!

Let us know forget the real reason for Christmas this year though. It is to celebrate, worship and praise Jesus Christ, who was born to a virgin, and who was an eternal being to come to this earth, possess a carnet body, being both man and God, in order to die for our sins. He paid the ultimate sacrifice for us!

Happy Birthday Jesus! I love you! Merry Christmas Everybody!