Black Friday...

 

I read that Black Friday is still the busiest foot traffic day in retail stores... even though so many businesses have been running their "Black Friday Sales" events for weeks.  Not having to go out and deal with those early morning crowds is another thing I am grateful for.  Years ago, when we were in Phoenix to visit with Steph and Dan, we'd go out with lists of things to buy for kids on the Angel Tree where they previously worked.  It was cold and there were crowds everywhere.  Nope, don't miss that.

I turned the TV on when I got up at 6:00 this morning - the local NBC affiliate had some of their news team live at various stores... stacks of big TVs at Best Buy and no one beating down the door to get at them.  They switched to another reporter at Bass Pro - tables of flannel shirts and two or three people looking at them.  No crowds grabbing at anything they can get their hands on.  Seems to be a different experience from what we've seen in the past.

I waited to see if the camera I'm interested in would be on sale... nope.  In fact, it isn't even in stock at any of the Best Buys in the Valley.

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

It's a cliche', but I am grateful.  Of course, for our family... it is so nice to have Steph and Dan right next door.  She was already over here this morning to borrow some rosemary - and I am thankful that she is handling all the cooking this year.  She baked an apple pie last night that looks like something out of a Martha Stewart cookbook.

I am thankful for our home.  Yes, the house is nice, but it is the people in it that makes it a home.  And the cats.  And, Rubina the Guide Dog for the Blind puppy that Steph and Dan are raising.  I love the view from our patio of South Mountain.  And all the plants and metal sculptures that Joan has brought together to decorate the yard.

It was one year ago at this time that we had to say our good-byes to Rufus (the most amazing cat ever), and for Steph and Dan to turn back Blaine (their guide dog in training); it was a tough time for our families.  But, Murphy, the angel/devil cat (40/60, but the numbers change daily), and Rubina the black lab puppy have joined with Tasha, Alfie, and Tango (Murphy's best friend) to make our homes and hearts feel full.

I appreciate our new life here in Phoenix.  I miss south Texas, but it was a good time for us to make this change.  We all have our health.  Steph and Dan are happy in their careers.  Joan and I are pleased to be gainfully unemployed, although she never runs out of things that need to be done.

The weather outside this Thanksgiving morning is delightful: sunny and an expected high of 78º.  I'm still trying to acclimate to the desert climate and the 30º+ temperature differences from day to night.  I have to say I appreciate this time of year over the summer heat.

I hope you are able to be with those you care about this holiday.  If not, hold them in your heart.

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

Working a shift...

 

You got a job, Jim?  No, but thanks for asking.  My buddy Mark volunteers regularly at the St Mary's Food Bank.  This is a large organization, distributing food 5 days a week.  We were told that "over 23,000 families received turkeys and the makings for Thanksgiving meals in the past 3 days."

Mark had asked if Joan, Steph, Dan, and I would be interesting in volunteering on the day before Thanksgiving.  We were all 4 in and Mark had arranged for a group of family and friends to be working together at two food distribution tables.

The way it worked: after going through registration, vehicles would come down our line 6 at a time.  They had a number marked on their windshield for how many families they were picking up for.  Some loaded food onto a table, others put that food in the vehicle.  There was a frozen turkey, a box of canned or boxed goods, a back of fresh vegetables, and two bread items (a loaf of bread, a package of bagels, dinner rolls, etc).  If there were kids in a vehicle, there were packages of snacks for them.  I didn't keep track of how many cars ran through our line.

From what I could tell, today was set up to be for groups of volunteers: some corporate, some family/friends.  Because there isn't a lot of parking on the St Mary's Food Bank grounds, we parked at the Arizona State Fairgrounds and were bussed to the Food Bank.  Everyone was given a hi-viz vest and instructions for their group.  Joan and Dan were putting bread items in the fresh food bags and getting out the turkeys, Steph was stocking tables, I was putting boxes, bags, and turkeys into vehicles.  I think we had 7 or 8 people working our table.  Mark and Cindy were with others at the table next to ours.  We loaded the first car in line, they did the same with the second; and more of the same for the rest of each batch of vehicles.  There were people directing traffic and lead volunteers over-seeing.  Most of the vehicles were picking up for one or two families, but we did have some that were picking up for more

Once the vehicles were loaded, we had a moment to get some photos within our group, before the next group of vehicles were directed in...

St Mary's Food Bank is good at getting all this food distributed.  The number of semi-trucks, forkifts, and many, many pallets of food is staggering.  And from what I saw today, it operates very efficiently.  I heard there were 220 volunteers today.

The Day's Last Rays...

 

Yesterday, at the end of the day, Murph and I were enjoying some time out in the yard.  The boy likes his outdoor time...

 Then, looking to the west after the sun went behind the mountains...

Some pretty dramatic skies here in the desert, but that doesn't last long.

Joan and Steph were up and out early today: a trip to the grocery store.  Murphy and I got some chilly morning outdoor time.  It will be a music day for me, heading to Mark's house for music with the "big group" - 6 of us today.

One year ago today...

 

It was a Facebook Memory I was dreading.  I knew it was the day after Thanksgiving last year, but it seemed to come too early...

 It was the last day in Rufus's life.  This memory came over me like a wave.  A huge, heavy tidal wave.  If love could have kept him alive, that big furry boy would have lived forever.  We can't have him in our arms, but he will be forever in our hearts.

An Evening With Friends...

 

Leonid & Friends, that is.  Haven't heard of them before?  Check them out on YouTube: their music videos get millions (yes, literally) of views.  They are a band from Russia that does impressive covers of Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire, Tower of Power, and others.  I've been watching their videos for a couple years; the bass player (Leonid) does all the arranging and the musicianship is fun to watch.  They are currently on a 2024 US Tour - last night to appreciative crowd at the Celebrity Theater in Phoenix.

We haven't been to the Celebrity Theater before, so didn't know what to expect.  While the venue can do typical stage shows, it is set up as theater-in-the-round.  Seating capacity is 2650, and the stage rotates, so all the seats get a good view...

 We were there about 45 minutes early, got a good parking place (paid), and found our seats.  The obligatory selfie...

The seats behind us filled as it got close to show-time.  All seats are reserved, so it wasn't necessary to get there early to get a good seat (but we got better parking with our timing).  Doing a bit of people watching while waiting for the show to start (25 minutes late), it was clear that Leonid & Friends appeal to an older crowd, people who remember the heyday of the bands they cover.  These are my people!

When the show got started, the band kicked right from the beginning...

 They are very true to music they cover, but it is clear that some of the vocals are being done phonetically... we considered some of it to be a bit of Yakov Smirnoff sounding with the accent.  There are 11 of them up there: 3 piece horn section, drums, bass, guitar, and keyboards, and 4 vocalists.  The venue has a good Bose sound system, so the stage is very "clean."  The volume wasn't so loud that it left your ears ringing.  It was a good concert experience.

During the intermission (15 minute break that ran 25 minutes), their emcee (and Leonid's son) came out and auctioned off a band jersey that all the members had signed and included VIP seating and any of their US shows for the next year.  Bidding started at $100 and it didn't take long for it to build to the winning bid of $8,000.

The second set was more of the same energy, a bit of crooner-ish Chicago-style vocals, and building to a lengthy drum solo.

I didn't find out about the Friday night show until seeing a commercial on TV on Thursday - I was surprised that there were still seats available and at a reasonable price.  I knew we would be "off to the side," but the rotating stage brought them front and center to us regularly.

A fun evening.  We would definitely go back to that theater again.

A short video sample...

And when you smile for the camera...

 

If you said, "From the song Peg by Steely Dan, 1977," you get 20 bonus points.  If you added, "Michael McDonald sang backing vocals on that song," you get an additional 30 bonus points.

I have been researching cameras.  The need isn't immediate.  I'm looking for a good hybrid camera that can handle stills and video.  I have it narrowed down to a couple different cameras, but I'd like to get my hands on them... without the security attachment on the cameras at Best Buy that changes the weight and feel of the camera.  It is possible for a camera to be too small to fit your hands.  Or not have a comfortable feel for your grip.

The technology on cameras has changed a lot in the past decade; most new cameras are decent - it becomes a matter of what combination of features fits your usage.  In spite of what you might think after looking for online reviews, most people don't have much need for an actual camera these days, preferring to use their phone.

All that said, Joan found a camera on Vine.  For Vine members, there is no out of pocket (out of credit card?) cost to you for the item, but there is a tax consideration: you don't want to order a bunch of crap just because "it's free."  I think she was considering that it might be a "stop gap" while I'm considering my choice.

It was delivered yesterday.  It is a bit "kiddish" looking to me...

Not uncomfortable, but it feels plastic-y.  It looks like very dated technology.  No viewfinder and the display screen doesn't articulate - that means the only way to view what you are going to shoot is to hold the camera out in front of you.  That is going to make it slow and difficult to get a steady shot.

I put the battery in and charged it up.  It was after 9:00 last night before it was charged, so I didn't do much with it beyond setting it up.  The specs say it has "4K video and 64 megapixel still photos."  We'll see.

I took the camera outside early this morning when I took Murphy out.  The sun was still behind the mountain, but there seemed to be adequate light.  With the camera on Auto ISO, this was the result...

So much for the Auto ISO making for a decent shutter speed and aperature.  I set the ISO for 800 manually, resulting in this...

No, Murph did not smile for the camera.  Well, he may have, but the shutter delay was so long that the moment had passed by the time the exposure was actually made.  Some of you may remember this situation from our early days of trying to get dolphin photos while we were sailing: most of what we got was water where a dolphin had been a second or two earlier.  This is painful.  And the fact that you are holding the camera out in front of you makes it even tougher to get a crisp image.  On, and that "64mp still image" - here's an enlarged portion of the image above...

The sensor in this camera is very dated technology.  There would be far more frustration than satisfaction in trying to use this camera.  You can't send stuff back from Vine.  Too bad.

The brand is Vivitar (no mention of the model on Amazon).  Amazon has this camera listed at $249.99.  On Vine, it was showing as a $170.95 value.  The closest thing I could find to it anywhere online was at $90.  I would put the value of this camera as less than that.  Might be something for a kid to use as a first camera.  Or maybe not, if it would frustrate them.  Vivitar used to be a good brand for flash equipment back in the 80s.  I'm guessing some Chinese entity bought the name and this is the result.

I had to laugh when looking at the listing on Amazon: this was one of the images they used...

The woman is using it as though it has a viewfinder.  She would have her eyeball up against the screen... it would be damn hard to compose a shot like that.  On the bright side: it comes with a battery, a data card, and a carrying bag...

Makin' Music With My Friends...

 

If you said, "A line from the song On The Road Again by Willie Nelson, 1980," you get 15 bonus points.

Yesterday, Mark and Ron came to our house so the 3 of us could work on vocal harmonies for songs we're working up with the bigger group of music buddies...

 This allows us to be more efficient when we get together with the larger group - those that aren't doing vocals don't have to sit around doing nothing.  Of course, anytime I'm making music with my buddies is time well spent.

--------

This morning, I brought a guitar out to the patio to make some music for Joan and Murphy...

That stripey light is coming from the pergola overhead - it gives good shade during the summer, but tends to be like this over the noon hour when the sun is overhead, but still lower.  I eventually had to move to a chair under one of the patio umbrellas...

Yes, it's a pretty day out there.  My guitar got a bit warm to the touch when I was out in the sunlight.  The guitar is carbon fiber, so it isn't bothered by that.

Tell me more...

 

If you said, "A line from the song Summer Nights, in the musical Grease, 1978," you get 10 bonus points.  If you are hearing that song in your head right now, you are part of a great generation.

This morning, the lovely Blonde told me all about the differences between sweet potatoes and yams.  For a good 15 minutes.  No, I didn't ask.  I could sum it up with: "One, I don't like, and the other, I don't care for."

Apparently, the humor came through when I said, "Tell me more..."

Her retort: "I'll remind you of this the next time you tell me about bikes or cameras."

Touche'.

 

Hot Tub Party...

 

You didn't get your invite?  It was a pretty small party.  I was out soaking this morning - Joan brought Murphy into the courtyard.  Our rule with Murphy in the yard is: someone has to keep an eye on him; we don't let him out there on his own.

The boy was quite intrigued with the hot tub...

 This may be the first he's seen anyone in it.  He has checked it out when I'm checking the PH or adding sanitizer.  "You actually get in this thing, huh?"

After cleaning up, Joan went to the store; I geared up and went for a ride.  My choice today was the Burgman scoot... it hasn't seen a lot of riding since I got the CTX out.  It was after noon that I got out today.  When we first got back from our summer trip, I had to get out first thing in the morning or it would be too hot.  Now, 2 months later, it is too chilly for me to get out on a bike at first light; it was 43º this morning at sunrise.  64º when I got out, and that still felt a bit nippy.

The riding was good, though - very little traffic, lots of sunshine.  My favorite outing: up South Mountain.  I did a few short 360 video clips - here are a couple stills from that...

 

It felt good to get out. 

A video from today's ride...

Digital vs Analog...

 

I replied to a comment from Earl a couple days ago, regarding Hasselblad cameras.  From my perspective in the photo industry, Hasselblad cameras were the pinnacle.  I had to look it up: yep, Hasselblad is still making cameras, rethought for the digital age...

Apparently, they are still the pinnacle, capable of producing 100mg raw images.  That said, who needs 100 megabyte photo images?  I don't know who is actually using these.

I did try out a Hasselblad digital back right before we made the switch from film to going 100% digital.  It produced a 20mg file.  We had the latest Mac equipment at the time, and the files bogged down the computers.  Plus, the digital back had to be tethered to the computer, making it a hassle to use anywhere but in the studio.

Enter the Kodak Professional digital camera, based on a Nikon F5 (the 35mm pinnacle camera at the time)...

It was a beast of a camera that produced 6mg digital images raw.  Worked up in Photoshop, they became 18mb files.  We could use them in the studio, on location, and outdoors.  We bought two of them and started the transition to a full digital operation, including 3 printing stations, a Kodak "proofing" software suite (which meant we had to have a Microsoft OS computer to run it), and a wide format digital printer capable of producing up to 30x40 prints.

We were well ahead of the competition and the learning curve, since we had been doing all our own color printing from film in house.  What the digital lab brought: no mixing of chemicals, no need to work in the dark.  We used dye sublimation technology, giving us prints that were less prone to fading, like traditional photo paper.  With Photoshop, our retouching abilities were limited only by imagination, as opposed to retouching on a color negative.

Consumer digital cameras were crap.  Potential clients were suspicious of what a "digital portrait session" would produce.  Some people actually said to us, "We don't want digital - it looks bad."

To which we would reply, "Would you like something like the prints you see on display here?" pointing at the large prints on our walls.

"Yes."

"Those were all made with electronic imaging... digital."

"Ohhhh."

We used that phrase, "electronic imaging," instead of "digital."  There was no going back for us - we shut down our film and photo paper processing.  If someone needed an image from a file that we had shot on film, we had installed a color negative scanner to produce a quality digital file.  Our transition was complete.  It was not an inexpensive transition.  The digital cameras were more expensive than any film based Hasselblad.  The dye-sub paper was more expensive than silver-based photo paper.  All of our mounting, texturing, and print finishing was the same, so there was no learning curve there.  We went from printing paper proofs to putting "proof" images in a bound book.  Other early digital adopters were going "proofless," requiring people to come into the studio to make their selections from a computer.  It was another cost to make that proof book, but it allowed people to show their images to grandparents and other family and friends.  We felt it was worth the cost with larger orders.

Commercial clients quickly embraced the new technology - they no longer had to have a four color separation made from each image to have it printed - they could go right from the files we delivered to the printing process for catalogs or magazine ads.  (Yeah, there were scads of catalogs and magazines back then.)

And then the quality of consumer digital cameras improved while the cost dropped dramatically.  People quickly developed the attitude of "if that shot isn't good, take another - it doesn't cost anything!"  Quite different from the attitude when shooting film.  People figured out that they could copy almost any image in their home, with a scanner or their new digital camera.  We could see that it was going to be impossible to protect the ownership (copyright) of an image.

Crap digital imaging was becoming acceptable.  We decided it was time to retire.  We sold the studio and stayed on for 90 days to train the new owner's staff.  Unfortunately, he did not participate much in that process.  I suggested to him that he consider changing the business model: less emphasis on selling finished prints, and raising the price for the sessions to make up for it.  The retouching, printing, and finishing was labor intensive... I would average 2 hours shooting a session - proof printing, sales, image selection, retouching, printing, and delivery would take much longer than that.  It was my belief that the new business model for photography would be: image creation based rather than finished print based.

By that point (2006), we were out.  At one of the last seminars I did, I told the professional photographers there: "The next big change you will see in our industry will be high school seniors having a small device that will hold their senior portrait digital files, and they will be able to beam those files to their friends with similar devices.  Trading wallet-size photos will be a thing of the past."  Most of them scoffed.

And then came the first iPhone in 2007.  I was right on about "the device," but didn't see the demise of having professional portrait sessions done.  People were taking their own "senior portraits" with cheap digital cameras or these new smart phones.  Grandma didn't need to have actual photos of the grandkids to show her friends, when she could let them look at her phone.

Smart phones decimated the professional photography business.  And the film/camera industry.  There are a zillion "professional photographers" (self-proclaimed, they're all over social media), but very few actually making a living by creating images.

While I went through a period where I didn't care if I picked up a camera or not, I appreciate making images for my own enjoyment these days.  Whether it is the full moon, Murphy being cute, or shooting some video while out on one of the bikes. 

I remember when that first "Aha!" moment hit me regarding photography: first year in college, my (late) best bud Bill was showing me around the darkroom.  I watched an image come up on black and white photo paper while in the developer... I was amazed.  It was the beginning.  That first Hasselblad didn't come until years later.

Beaver Shot...

 

Yes, I am talking about these photos of the Full Beaver Moon I just took.  Tonight's full moon is the final supermoon of four consecutive supermoons of the year! This means that it will appear bigger and brighter than normal! 

Why the “Beaver” Moon? This is the time of year when beavers begin to take shelter in their lodges, having laid up sufficient food stores for the long winter ahead. During the fur trade in North America, it was also the season to trap beavers for their thick, winter-ready pelts. 

This evening, there was a cloud layer that was obscuring the moon.  I am patient.  At times.  Here's the progression...

And, this final "beaver shot" unobscured...

I'm just tired of it...

 

Research.  No, not for something to benefit mankind... like: curing the heartbreak of flatulence.  I'm kidding - I don't suffer from flatulence... I quite enjoy it.  Oh, come on - like you didn't know that was coming??

I have been enthusiastic about photography for over 50 years.  Back in the early 70s, it was a passion that turned into a career.  And when we retired from that in 2006, I went several years where the only thing I took photos of was for the blog (and prior to that, a weekly travel newsletter).

And then I stumbled into shooting video... with action cameras (and 360 cameras).  Cameras so small and specialized that it didn't feel anything like the years of capturing portrait and commercial images with a Hasselblad.

I did get a couple Nikon DSLR cameras.  OK, and a couple Canons and a Lumix.  But none of that equipment stirred my soul like the Hasselblads of my past.  The little action cameras have been fun, but that is more about capturing riding (motorcycles and scooters) video.  The passion has been more about the riding than the video.  Oh, yeah, and a bunch of music videos, most done during the Covid years ("Stayin' at Home" videos).

Recently, I have found myself interested in shooting some video that isn't about riding.  Yes, a change of pace since getting the Roadtrek.  So, I have been looking at cameras that will be a good fit for travel videos... but still give me options for still photography.  I have it narrowed down to a couple, but my need isn't immediate.

Since 2006, buying something technical like a camera has changed... not many camera stores are left these days.  Probably because everybody shoots video and stills with their phones.  And the phone cameras are convenient.  But the form factor for creating images and videos is much better with a dedicated camera.  They just feel better in your hands.  Probably because a "real" camera doesn't need to fit in your pocket.

But the real change has been the proliferation of YouTube: if you want to buy a particular camera, there will be a seemingly endless flow of videos about that camera.  And comparing that camera to another.  And another.  Information overload.  I often wonder if there is a camera sold for each of those videos?  Oh, I get it: these "influencers" are trying to get an audience to subscribe to build up their YouTube channel so they can get paid to make these videos.  Many of these reviewers proudly proclaim, "I bought this with my own money, so you know this is an honest evaluation," while they secretly envy other reviewers who have been given equipment from the manufacturers so they can do more reviews, and help sell more cameras... all while saying, "Sony (or Canon, or insert a camera maker here) gave me this camera to review, but that doesn't mean I'm influenced by getting free stuff (bullshit - if they don't give a good review, the manufacturer isn't going to give them more stuff) - this is my own opinion and I'm going to tell the good AND the bad."  They all say it, almost like it is a script.  Since so many of them are saying essentially the same things about any particular camera, I think they must be watching each others' videos so they don't say something that doesn't jive with the rest of the reviewers.  It's a lot.

And if you haven't plunged into the YouTube universe, one video flows into the next, whether is is from the same reviewer with a different camera, or a different reviewer with the same camera.  Seriously, if the manufacturers are getting sales from people watching these reviews, they must be doing good.

I'll let you know if and when I get something, but I will be buying it with my own money, so you know I'll be giving you the honest facts... hahahahahahaha!

Touristing...

 

I was feeling the need... the need to get out in the Roadtrek for a day-trip.  Joan put a few snacks together, I put a couple cameras in a bag, and we headed out.  A general plan of "heading southeast towards Florence."  Because... we have never been to Florence.

We stayed off the main highways as we made our way through San Tan Village and other communities in the furthest southeast portion of the Valley of the Sun.  It was interesting just checking out the developments in that area.  An hour or so later, we rolled into Florence...

 It was a "drive through"... not for lunch, but we didn't get out of the van.  Next stop: Coolidge.  We were just enjoying being in the van...

As we made the turn towards Coolidge, there was a sign for the Casa Grande Ruins National Monument... "Shall we?"  We shall.  This time, we stopped and got out of the van...

I still smile when I can pull it into a normal parking spot.  :-)

It is, literally, just a couple blocks off the main road.  We walked through the Visitors Center...

A model of what the Main House looked like 1,000 years ago...

And then out through the ruins...

The shelter is built over it to help preserve it.  This was a 3 story structure when it was intact.

The Main House was being restored.  Those low level "lumps" you see just above the ground (4 photos above) are what's left of the individual family dwellings.  There were areas for a ball court, as well as communal food prep and art creation buildings.  No descendents to know for sure, but archeologists have pieced things together that make sense.  There are many interesting "communities" throughout the southwest, from these desert dwellings where they had irrigation systems 1,000+ years ago, to the cliff dwellings like Montezuma's Castle (between Phoenix and Flagstaff) and the Mesa Verde cliff dwellings near the 4 Corners area.  This was an interest visit.  We've driving by the sign on the Interstate many times, but this is the first time we have visited the ruins.

From there, we headed towards I-10 to the west.  Some interesting roads and terrain...

Driving north on I-10, heading back towards the Phoenix area, Joan pointed out "This is the first time we've been south of the Loop 202 on I-10 since we moved here a year ago."

We stopped at Outback Steak House for a late lunch, then a stop at Sam's Club to gas up the van... for $2.72/gal.  We saw gas as high as $3.69 on our travels today.  Someone will likely ask: between 15 and 16 miles per gallon on this fill-up.  We could have certainly taken the Equinox for this day trip, but I was wanting to get out in the van.  It was Joan's suggestion to go see Florence and Coolidge, I suggested the Casa Grande Ruins when I saw the sign.  Joan said, "Next trip out is your call."  I'm thinking there will be an overnight involved.