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Twelve Months, Twenty Photos 2019
It’s that time of the year, it’s time for a recap. 2019 was photographically a great year. Three long distance family trips full of photo opportunities as well as countless local expeditions with the camera.
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2019 was also a bit different than the last few years. While I returned to film photography back in 2015 I remained mostly a mixed digital and analog photographer. As the years progressed I became increasingly biased towards film though. And in 2019, my photography turned completely analog. There were only two events I photographed on my digital camera to be able to share photos quickly with the participants and to make sure the camera did not collect too much dust. It was also a great opportunity to cycle through the batteries and get them all recharged just in case.
Most of my photography was on 35mm film, even though I enjoyed using a few of my medium format cameras too. And almost new to me this year is large format photography. While I have had my 4” x 5” pinhole camera for a while, it does not have any of the movements typical for lens based cameras.
This year, a family friend gifted me a 5” x 7” camera. It laid unused for a very long time and as such was not in a 100% shape. I cleaned up where I could get to, figured out how everything works, and took it out for a spin. The curtain shutter will need some more work as it tends to hang a bit but going through a few shots to work it out seems to get the exposure times close enough.
Transporting it across the ocean resulted in a cracked ground glass too and instead of buying an expensive replacement I opted for using a cheap picture frame glass and doing the grinding myself. All worked out very well and I believe my replacement is better than the original.
So anyway, as I have done since 2014, here’s my Twelve Months, Twenty Photos collage of my color and black and white photographs shot across a wide variety of films. My current favorites? On the color front, it is Kodak Portra 400 and 160. On the black and white side, my preferred films of the year are Fomapan 400, especially in medium format (6x6cm, type 120), and Kodak 5222 (aka Double X, or Cinestill BwXX).
Can’t wait to see what 2020 brings …
Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy
Please, let me know if you have any questions about any photo products offered, or not offered, I will be happy to help! For a quick reference to all photo galleries and collections as well as all photo products currently offered through my site, please, visit the Products page.
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That Didn't Take Long
It looks like the forecast was right on and our world was painted white shortly after submitting the last post. In response, I've acknowledged that development by switching my home page into winter mode, and now by sharing some wintery landscapes.
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It's a location I love going back to as it has so much to offer. On this visit, I was focused on the landscape and the beautiful sunny winter day it was. Frigid or not, sunshine seems to always mentally help, even though it can be rather deceiving in winter. No clouds usually mean even colder temperatures.
Sunny Winter Day, Winter's Pond
Photographed on Film: Mamiya 645, Fomapan 400
But who would not like a bright sunny day? We don't get enough of those around here thanks to the lake effect moisture and a resulting almost permanent layer of clouds. But when the sun does show up and there's plenty of snow and ice on the ground, the world is twice as bright! It's a great time to head out, feel the snow cracking under one's boots, and breathe in that intense cold air.
Pieces Falling into PlaceA winter jigsaw puzzle at Winter's Pond
Pieces Falling into Place, A winter jigsaw puzzle at Winter's Pond
Photographed on Film: Mamiya 645, Fomapan 400
Don't let winter slow you down, it's got it's beauty even if it has a bite.
Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy
If you'd like to see my photographs on Facebook when new blog posts go out, feel free to give me a like. Alternatively, bookmark my main blog page and then click on it once or twice a week. Would you like to see more photographs from Buffalo and Western New York? Visit my Buffalo Cityscapes and Buffalo & Western New York Landscapes and enjoy! For more black and white photographs click to the World without Color photo collection. Please, let me know if you have any questions about any photo products offered, or not offered, I will be happy to help! For a quick reference to all photo galleries and collections as well as all photo products currently offered through my site, please, visit the Products page.
Using my links to do your shopping keeps me sharing more photographs and writing the stories behind them and costs you nothing. You can also use the Amazon search box in bottom left for anything at all. I truly appreciate each purchase, no matter how large, no matter how small. Thank you!
Through Fall
Only a few trees have retained some of their leaves at this point but I don't see a problem living in the colorful dream for a little longer. Let's keep the colors around for a bit. It's Sunday evening now and the forecast for Monday seems a bit white so let's see how much longer we can keep the dream going.
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A beautiful fall day, a wonderful alley of colorful trees and a winding road. First a zig, then a zag. That is the spot! A quick look through the viewfinder, a few steps back and forth, left and right, then a gentle push of the shutter and the moment is preserved. If not for eternity then at least for the next few winter months until the first greens show up in spring.
Country Road through FallKnox Farm State Park
Country Road through Fall
Photographed on film: Pentax Spotmatic, Kodak Ektar 100
Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy
Do you enjoy reading my photography blog? Would you like to see more photographs from Buffalo and Western New York? Visit my Buffalo Cityscapes and Buffalo & Western New York Landscapes and enjoy! Please, let me know if you have any questions about any photo products offered, or not offered, I will be happy to help! For a quick reference to all photo galleries and collections as well as all photo products currently offered through my site, please, visit the Products page.
Using my links to do your shopping keeps me sharing more photographs and writing the stories behind them (commission earned) and costs you nothing. You can also use the Amazon search box in bottom left for anything at all. I truly appreciate each purchase, no matter how large, no matter how small. Thank you!
Covered Bridge Covered with ColorsFall Colors
Watkins Glen WindowFall Colors
Meadows and Fences at Sunrise, Knox FarmFall colors
Changing Times
Sometimes it's the grand landscapes that catch my eye, other times it is the minute details. Details we all may pass every day without ever noticing or paying attention to them. I find I pay more attention to my surroundings when I have a camera in my hand.
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I have selected a single black and white photo to share with you today. It's of an old stump in a park very close to where I live. I must have walked by the stump many times. But this day, with an old Rolleiflex from the 1940s in my hand I was really paying attention. If only the stump could talk. How did the tree come to life? Was it planted or did a random seed successfully germinate at the spot? What was the final nail in its life before it was cut down?
The Stump, Chestnut Ridge Park
Photographed on Film: Rolleiflex Automat, Fomapan 100
I have just visited the same location last week while chasing fall colors and the stump was gone, ground, only wood chips left. Yes, it was only a stump but I am still glad I photographed it while it was still there.
Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy
If you'd like to see my photographs on Facebook when new blog posts go out, feel free to give me a like. Alternatively, bookmark my main blog page and then click on it once or twice a week. Would you like to see more photographs from Buffalo and Western New York? Visit my Buffalo Cityscapes and Buffalo & Western New York Landscapes and enjoy! For more black and white photographs click to the World without Color photo collection. Please, let me know if you have any questions about any photo products offered, or not offered, I will be happy to help! For a quick reference to all photo galleries and collections as well as all photo products currently offered through my site, please, visit the Products page.
Using my links to do your shopping keeps me sharing more photographs and writing the stories behind them and costs you nothing. You can also use the Amazon search box in bottom left for anything at all. I truly appreciate each purchase, no matter how large, no matter how small. Thank you!
OneTree
HuddleTrees
Bent OverForest
Fall Colors around Murder Creek
We're at the tail-end of the season of color so let's throw some more colors on these pages. Today, we're returning to the beautiful Murder Creek in Akron Falls Park.
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The green moss-covered rocks, colors all around, water humming its way through, what's not to like? It's a really short hike along the creek to get to the Lower Akron Falls, but I always enjoy it very much. And it can also take me quite a while!
Fall Colors around Murder CreekAkron Falls Park
Fall Colors around Murder Creek, Akron Falls Park
Shot on Nikon FE and Kodak Ektar 100 Film
At some point along the hike the humming intensifies and grows louder and louder with each step announcing the upcoming waterfall. Many people prefer the high flow of spring for waterfalling, I prefer a nice gentle medium to low flow. Yes, in this case, it's missing the flow from the high ledge - see the rock at the top right? In high flow, water rockets out of there. But do you see those beautiful individual strands of water here? And see how they're clean and white?
Fall at Akron FallsWestern New York Outdoors
Fall at Akron Falls, Western New York Outdoors
Shot on Nikon FE and Kodak Ektar 100 Film
And finally, the waterfall and the creek are surrounded by the colors of fall. Even in summer, the greenery adds to the beauty. In spring, I really miss those add-ons.
Enjoy The Beauty That Surrounds You! #etbtsy
Do you enjoy reading my photography blog? Would you like to see more photographs from Buffalo and Western New York? Visit my Buffalo Cityscapes and Buffalo & Western New York Landscapes and enjoy! Please, let me know if you have any questions about any photo products offered, or not offered, I will be happy to help! For a quick reference to all photo galleries and collections as well as all photo products currently offered through my site, please, visit the Products page.
Using my links to do your shopping keeps me sharing more photographs and writing the stories behind them (commission earned) and costs you nothing. You can also use the Amazon search box in bottom left for anything at all. I truly appreciate each purchase, no matter how large, no matter how small. Thank you!
The Akron FallsGentle Trickle
Before Sunrise at Lower Akron FallsWaterfall Panorama
Morning on Murder CreekGreen & White
Spring under Akron FallsHigh Flow
Murder Creek GreensRock-Hopping