Still here...

I joined Flickr as a user on Nov 5, 2007 and it's been a fun ride since with ups and downs in frequency and utility. Over the past few years, my photos have changed in approach, quality, and theme.

There have been technical challenges and creative ones as well. I wallowed in misdirection for a long while and then found some new inspiration via a local Meetup group. In these sessions, I learned details about using lighting that I didn't understand before. I credit these studio sessions with my being able to take significant leaps forward in control of my shots.

Additionally, I joined the Palo Alto Camera Club in 2014. This provided the needed critique and challenge that I was missing.

I've been using Lightroom to manage my digital postprocessing. I joined that bandwagon at version 3 and continue up to version 6. I've not gone with the CC suite, however.

I've also had some breakthroughs with my astrophotos. Every few times I learn a new technique or method and it allows me to revisit old data in a better way.

I've retired my Pentax K10D. I did had a third body converted to full-spectrum to allow astrophotos and then got another converted to just 720nm. Nowadays, I use a K1 and K5IIis and a lot of film passes through older bodies. I've also added a few new lenses to my lineup. I've added more lighting gear to the stable, now using 4 Pentax 540 FGZ flashes.

I'm still trying to get good portrait shots. Working in the studio is great. Would like to get more practice with impromptu and casual portraits.

Pentaxian at the start, from the mid-80s and my K1000. Set film aside in 2001 and went to an Olympus 3020Z P & S. Was shooting with a Pentax K10D. Graduated to the K1.

In late 2012, I picked up a Pentax 67 system for a song and was playing with medium format film. I also started using a Pentax LX to go through some of my old film stock. I've learned to develop my own black and white, I do my own C41 and E6 processing, too. I guess you could say that I didn't abandon film after all.

I expanded the collection of bodies and lenses to overwhelming and by the summer of 2020 I had to purge down. All older digital and film bodies became donations to the Foothill College photography program. I kept only a handful of 35mm format lenses and let the rest go. Also, I'd become frustrated with using the medium format system to shoot astro photos and gave all that gear to friends.

At the end of 2020, I had only two LX, the IR converted K-10D, and the K-1 mk2.

This did not last long as I found a great Horseman 4x5 system and began the latest effort in slow photography.