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Rare sight in NH - northern lights visible due to a significant solar storm. It was clearly visible and photographed more impressively than it looked. Still fun.

First weekend up in our Maine Condo, nice to be up here. As always, set up the stereo (all-in-one with Orchard Pecan Pi + board and Purifi amp modules -> Kaya S12 speakers). This is the second all-in-one like this I modded, did a cleaner job on the back of this one....no panel scratches. Also a lovely picture of Nubble Lighthouse in York Maine with the Northern Lights; not my pic. But one of Karen and my favorite places!

We chose the correct joint....yummy chow EDIT: as long as someone takes their mushy peas seriously...LOL HS

If I’m spending Rolleiflex money I’m just going to save up and get a Mamiya 6! Minolta Autocord with meter is likely my next purchase, and I’ll just get more practice with composing. I really do think the incredibly dim viewfinder on the Yashica is the biggest problem for me. I picked up a variable diopter for the FM2. Cheaper than getting new glasses; I find critical focus very hard to get if I’m even a little bit off, of course, so it’s great being able to dial in with my imperfect corrected vision. Oatmeal Johnny was made for the camera. A combination of methods and equipment, but the same cat.

Built a vent board for our van AC unit that fits in the back window since they do not provide one and the only prebuilt one was really pretty cheap. This one is much more solid. Outside view inside view. We are almost ready for van life, which starts this Saturday.

I've been attempting to take meaningful photos at 300mm. It's been a nontrivial task. First up is some carefully edited photos taken with my (never not crap) Canon 75-300mm. A heron stepping around the pond. 75-300 @ 300mm, F/10, 1/800, ISO1600. I took advantage of the 5D4's high ISO performance to use a small aperture (the 75-300 sucks ass at anything else) and maintain a decent shutter speed. First day with the 300mm F/4 Nikkor. The subject is more native MV wildlife. This time, the wheelbarrow belonging to my (sainted, octogenarian) mother. It was holding still and well lit. The 300mm Nikkor works on a Canon body with an adapter, but it's nontrivial to use. First off, it doesn't have a hard stop at infinity focus. Many (most) old manual focus lenses have one and I find it super useful at any focal length. At 300mm, lacking a hard stop is a serious handicap. I eventually learned to deal with it. Not terribly interesting shot of Sweetened Water Farm, from my driveway. The main point of this shot (besides capturing some golden hour sun on some trees) was to demonstrate just how far back infinity focus starts with a 300mm. Bonus: (Nearly) the same view last summer, taken with my second Orestegor 300mm (which is significantly bigger and heavier than the 300mm Nikkor.) Again, not the wacky depth of field the 300mm provides. Both of these shots were taken wide open, which is to say F/4. Late afternoon sun on Jernegan pond. The 300mm Nikkor does produce a tiny bit of CA wide open. You both have to work to make it in a shot and then look for it afterward. A small plane flew overhead and I managed to capture it. Not as easy as one might imagine. There's shooting the moon, then there's shooting the moon. F/4, 1/160 with my hand on the front of the lens (steadies it a bit), ISO3200. Moments later, F/4 (I *think*), 1/160, ISO6400. More use of the 5D4's ISO performance. When I took this shot, I was very proud that I captured two herons and a duck. Upon editing I realized it was actually three herons. TBH I haven't picked up the 300mm Nikkor in a few weeks. I've been too busy editing photos from 2013 and 2023. More on that later.

Here's a better shot of the Walnut cookie table top that we delivered toady. Part of the top was in the sun this morning, and you can see the beautiful, crazy grain patterns.

Two heavy small things

https://archimago.blogspot.com/2016/08/my-favourite-movie-audiophile-scene.html?m=1

Yo dawg...

There are worse deals... https://petapixel.com/2024/04/23/this-ai-powered-poetry-camera-turns-photos-into-poems/

Speaking of lenses and Leicas, took out the Sigma 105mm f/1.4 on the SL2 Sunday. Helped a friend shoot a band. I was second camera so zero pressure. Most of me loves the lens. My lower back is the contrarian.