What’s going on
This entry in the blog is going to be all over the place. There are several topics I’d like to cover, and really not in the mood to do several posts. Anyway, it was a busy October after my long trip to Scotland. My Mom had some medical issues and needed 24/7 care which me and my siblings handled. Work was incredibly busy, seems that always happens after a vacation. And my house and cats needed attention. Toss in a broken camera, the starter needing to be replaced on my Explorer, and a dental crown needing to be replaced, and I’m spent. Physically and mentally, but also in the wallet. And despite being in almost peak fall colors in North Alabama, I have not been out with my camera since returning from Scotland October 3rd. It’s been a weird month.
Next weekend, I plan to get out to the local nature trail for some iconic fall color photos. It’s a great spot, a covered bridge and a lake make it a spot I have been to many times in my photography journey. I’m hoping for fog to really make for some moody photos. My friend Tom and his dog Bentley are sure to join in, at least I hope so since we’ve not hung out since he went on a European vacation before I left for Scotland.
My trip to Scotland reminded me how much I missed the UK. It was my 1st trip back since my September 2018 trip to the Lake District and Northumberland. I plan on returning October of 2024 for a 4 day workshop with Stuart McGlennon in the Lake District, and what I hope to do is pair it with another week of fun with my friends Paul and Jenny and their dog Brodie. And then, since I enjoyed the hell out of my photo tour with Dean Allan Photography, I signed up for another tour of his in February 2025 in Torridon. I’m excited about both trips!
On the topic of trips, I have not given much thought to any trips in the states for next year. I’ll be in Hawaii at some point, but I have not put much else on the calendar. Perhaps next year is when I finally do my Texas desert roadtrip. And maybe a trip to the Gulf of Mexico for some epic sunsets. Or I could fly to Oregon for another coastal adventure. San Francisco is on my list too. Too many options!
Total damage for my R5 was $800. A far cry from the $500 initial estimate. I understand totally, and felt like I had to make the repair. I plan on keeping the R5 for several years, and I could not deal with any tripod stability issues. Money well spent, even if I am pissed about having to spend it. Anyway, it’ll be back in my hands tomorrow.
That being said, I have been looking for a point and shoot camera yet again. I’ve fallen in love with the Sony RX100 VII, but another $1200 out the door would kill me right now. There’s a Lumix LX10 point and shoot I’m considering too, used would be about $450. Still, I wonder if I really need a 3rd camera.
I feel like my editing has gotten so much better in the past year. I’ve been using Photoshop more and more, but it’s not where it needs to be. A few years back I bought Lumenzia as a way to help me get on board with Photoshop, but I have never been able to truly grasp the tool. I still use parts of it, but I do not use it to its full potential. Two years ago, I bought Pro Panel and finally felt comfortable with editing in Photoshop with a plug-in. I even bought a video series to go with it. And then before I went to Scotland, I became intrigued with TK9 and bought it along with a tutorial video series. I’ve enough educational avenues to last for a while. Now to watch, practice, and put into my workflow.
My friends and family 2024 calendars are already in work. I’ve picked 11 of the 13 images I will need, yes, one for the cover. By Thanksgiving, I hope to have it completed, and all calendars ordered. This will give me time to get them all in the mail. What started out as an order for 7-8 calendars is now close to 25.
And the last thing I will cover in this catch-all entry is the local club’s final monthly themed contest. For November, the theme is Doors and Windows and I’ve already selected all of the candidates and ask for my friend Seth’s opinion on them all. I have 2 of the 4 photos picked out as musts. The deadline for entry is November 20th. With last month’s Honorable Mention, I moved up to 9th overall in the standings. A fantastic introduction to the local club. Finish strong I say!
Ok, that’s enough rambling for the day/week/month for now!