There,  I Fixed It!  

I needed to step away from my blog for a family emergency for a couple weeks. During that time, I took no photographs and I really missed not being able to do that. I didn't realize how much a habit photography has become in my life. Mentally, photography provides me with the time to sort out the clutter in my mind so I can find the things I need.

Illinois winters are gray, cold, and confining. I suppose that is why I chose to shake things up photographically by shooting only black and white and using only a fixed lens for several weeks. Hence, comes my title for this photo series, "There, I Fixed It"!

I am making this change to help me see my photos differently. I usually choose to use a telephoto lens because access is one key ingredient for taking interesting photos. Telephoto lenses help me gain an access advantage, in most circumstances, when I do not know what will capture my interest. By forcing myself to use fixed lenses I have to re-adjust the way I compose my photos.

This week's photo is my first photo taken in 2025. I shot it with a 35mm 1.8 lens using my ride around Nikon d5100. In post, I converted it to black and white . Since I knew my final image would be black and white, I adjusted my settings to get the black and white image that would work for me. The light was coming over his shoulder but not really lighting his face well. Fortunately, he was sitting at a nearby table so I was able to adjust exposure to near what I wanted in the print. I choose to take this photo because this fellow looked like he lived a hard life and was enjoying a hot cup of coffee on a minus degree gloomy winter's day. The cell phone in his hand told me that although he was alone, he was still connected with others at some level. On a gray, chilling, Illinois morning that is a warming thought.

Tryin to Get the Feeling Again

Just before Christmas, I was invited to sit in on a pre- concert sound check for Peter Mayer.  The photo featured in this week's blog was one of several taken during that session. Since 1988, Peter was the lead guitarist for Jimmy Buffet and the Coral Reefers Band.  He is a talented singer and phenomenal guitarist. Peter continues to write music and tour with his own band performing at many national venues.

As I watched him prepare for that evening's concert, my mind wandered to what life on the road must be after so many years.  I thought about all the microphones and tangles of wires and speakers that were anything but glamous. I watched as sound techs held conversations among themselves and with other musicians as the practice proceeded.  Mostly, I thought about what kind of mental discipline it takes to perform those familiar songs as if they were being performed for the very first time. However, from within all this present chaos, a polished performance will emerge in just a few short hours.

Attending this sound check got me thinking about photography in a way that Peter Mayer may feel as he prepares for a concert.  Behind each beautifully finished print, stands a period of repeated distractions, failures, and moments of self doubt prompting us to wonder if we can ever get the feeling again.