Spring Hope Photographer

04/24/2026

just a random 'my neighborhood' kind of picture:
Year 2026

Nikon 1 with some old pentax M42 lens.
Or whatever.
2026

03/22/2026

Things to Consider
Regarding:
RAW vs JPG
Mirrorless vs DSLR
Crop Sensor vs Full Frame
12mp vs 50
Editing vs SOOC
Nikon vs Canon
US vs THEM

(as previously posted elsewhere, Thanks for the conversations, Phil B)

Phil B. Seems we have a very similar approach to that question.
Quite a few photographers whom I view as much more capable than myself are Not hung up on the RAW vs. JPG thing.

We all know by now what we are missing if we choose jpg, I think. Yet we choose as we like, each for our own reasons.

It's odd to me that So Many (!) are so comfortable criticizing the tools and choices of other artists. Not just odd ... it's a bit insulting. As if we make our choices in a vacuum like muddling idiots.
And they know best what will work for us.

Rarely does one hear the question "why do you do it that way?" - which might indicate someone trying to understand or learn something new. Mostly it's preachers, salesmen, and ego driven brand or process loyalists, I think.

Folks, on average, seem to be much more myopic than really serves them well, in my opinion. That is a limiting factor!

If I had Complete mastery over my equipment, and could religiously go out and capture the exact shot that I intended, and was unable, routinely, to get the dynamic range and color that I needed for my shots, THEN I would add RAW to my mix, because I would Need it to improve my work.
I'm not there yet!

That's all, and that's why I don't add a moderately clumsy and effort consuming tool like RAW Processing to my toolbox. (plus I'm lazy and hate editing, lol)

Same logic (for me, and me only), applies to getting a massively more capable camera (or lens). The cameras I already own take better pictures than I do. (I do have a few nice cameras, admittedly).
Why focus on better tools when I'm not yet capable of getting the best out of the tools I already have?
Better to concentrate on ME.

Hope All are Well and Happy! - J

Nikon 1 V1
Holga Pinhole

03/21/2026

I know it's not as Grand as Spring Hope, Nashville, or Wilson, NC
but here's the Blanca Massif in Colorado.
(I've been dumpster diving my archive)

From the top of the Great Sand Dunes, looking down-valley toward New Mexico, with inbound weather.
Nikon d300
Nikkor 18-200 AF-S g

Hope All are Well and Happy! - J

03/19/2026

If you give a Camera away, and it comes back to you ...
Did you give the wrong Camera, or did you give to the wrong Person?

03/19/2026

mirrorless cameras are the CD Players of the future
There it is, I said it!
(I currently like mirrorless cameras, this is not an attack)

03/17/2026

I'm still 'chewing' on this location, now a month later and with a much different camera.
I shot this old place last month with a Nikon d2xs, this month I'm giving it a go with Sepia tone settings in camera, and a
Nikon 1 V1 / Takumar 20mm from the late 1960's.

Between Nashville and Spring Hope, NC, USA.
(click & scroll my actual feed for the d2xs shots if interested)

Hope All are Well & Happy!
Best - J

(ps: JAZ, this one's for you!)

03/14/2026

from elsewhere in the world, posted. Thanks J.F...

Nothing makes me scroll past a potentially great photograph faster than a personal history, a poem (written by others, of course), or an explanation of the image.
"Bridge with Sun Rising"
(or whatever) ... funny how pedantic the 'Titles' actually are ...

'Bird on a Fence'

NO WAY!
Is that a ... BIRD?
on a .... FENCE? ...
I'm seeing there in your 'work'? lolol.
GTFOH

'Sunrise on the Beach'

REALLY!
Wow.
Never would have figured that one out in a million years.

I'm a jerk, I don't care, but shut the f up and just post the picture that is supposedly worth A THOUSAND words.
OR DON'T do it at all!
Are you a Photographer?
or a wanna-b Poet-Influencer?

Anything else is an insult.
If you have to explain your joke, IT ISN'T FUNNY!

(Edit: Actually, to me at least, it goes much deeper than all of that ... (above s**t):
When a Photographer shares an image, what is really happening is an Invitation. An invitation for the viewer to join in and take part in the total process.
They can then filter the image through their own perspective.
That's why they came, to perceive your work through THEIR eyes.
If you first toss a bunch of descriptors and history and 'poetry' ...
you (any of us, not you personally), are TELLING the viewer how to experience the image. Trying to force them through Your filters.

That is not sharing art. That ... is Arrogance.
That is Control.
That is an insult to the viewer.

Hope you are well, been awhile!
-J

03/14/2026

Less Paragraphs
More Photographs

03/04/2026

03/04/2026

I just posted the most Bizarre photograph I think I've ever taken.
(previous post).

I never published it anywhere before, I don't think, even though it is now 18 years since I took it.
18 Years, and I haven't been able to figure out why I hated this picture so much ...
Yet year after year it didn't leave my memory, and I kept coming back to the image in person to try and figure it out.
Once and for-all.

And now I get it.
It's not sharing with the world the image I saw in front of me that day ... like I thought it was.

What makes a photograph is the revelation of what you didn't see when you took the shot, but you somehow captured, and now you CAN see, and Then, share it with others.

Wondering if they might see it too.

If you think that post was weird and fu**ed up, you don't want to know what I saw in my photograph!

Hope y'all are good, and well.
Especially Good.
Be Good. As much as possible.
-j