Doc's Odyssey

07/01/2025

Organizing my Canva home page and found these gems.

I'll sprinkle them in. Everyone loves content that nobody asked for.

Stay golden, Gang.

03/01/2025

"The Lighthouse and What Surrounded It"

The Hebrides are islands off the west coast of Scotland - my favorite is Harris but specifically around Talbert. Just across a bridge is Scalpay - a small island with this lighthouse.

Some of these photos are what I call "printers" but most are just capturing the feeling of the moment.

Would I put on my cable knit sweater and wool gloves with the fingers cut and drink coffee at the top and live at that protected stone house at the bottom?

Absolutely I would.

Wouldn't even need to buy any new outfits.

02/01/2025

29/12/2024

"The Shire" (swipe for the original)

I like to print my photos both for clients but, if I'm honest, more for myself. They're all over my office and any living space. I particularly love it when the sun traces along the wall and bookshelves - as the light hits each, they really pop and look as close to the edit on my screen (even better actually).

That doesn't show up on here so I've added the edit. But even that won't look as good on your light adapted screens. The prints are where it's at, for me.

This one was taken in Ullapool on the west coast of Scotland before catching the ferry out to the Hebrides. It makes me feel warm, safe, happy - like the shire. Hence its location on my shelf.

Alright, Gang, stay golden.

26/12/2024

"We've Got the Best Haggis in Town, Gang"

I don't know why, but this is one of my favorite photos.

I could talk about golden ratios and aspects and lines and subject and content and why B&W is the choice here and all that does play into why I like it, but not really.

It's 82% something else and I don't know what that is. I use the phrase a lot, mostly in my own mind. This photo's on the wall over my desk and it always makes me smile or laugh.

So, feel free to psychoanalyze that but it's ma birthday so I can post what I want today.

Cheers!

"We've Got the Best Haggis in Town, Gang"
Edinburgh, Scotland
Canon EOS 80D - ISO 400 - 24mm - f/16 - 1/30 sec

20/12/2024

"On 16th and 9th"

If you're like me, you're going to like the B&W shot better but the color ones are the more popular. It also works well in this scene.

What is this scene?

Great question, gang.

I'm doing a project that'll be about a year long and I'm in the "testing and scouting" phase. But I'm coming up with stuff I like. It's nice when there's no pressure, you can just shoot and if nothing comes out, fine. If something comes out, great! But you can also take the photos you like rather than pleasing the masses.

That said, here's the color version for the masses. But then the B&W for me.

Stay fresh, cheese-bags.

"On 16th and 9th"
Greeley, CO, USA
Canon EOS R6m2 - ISO 1000 - 24mm - f/4 - 1/6 sec (Color)
Canon EOS R6m2 - ISO 1000 - 24mm - f/4 - 1/15 sec (B&W)

15/12/2024

"Jenny's Welcoming and Inviting Tropical Sno"

How'd I do on the "welcoming and inviting" part?

You may be wondering, "What in the Sam Hill is he doing with these random photos?" Well, I'm working on a project that I'll talk more about once I have more traction, interest, and sponsors or what-have-you. But it's been a ton of fun despite the apparent mundane-ness in the actual plan.

Right.

So what do y'all think? What does it make you feel, do you like it and why?

"Jenny's Welcoming Tropical Sno"
Greeley, CO, USA
Canon EOS R6m2 - ISO 1000 - 70mm - f/4 - 1/13 sec

22/11/2024

"Tension"

Let's talk about this photo, y'all.

Seemingly simple/common composition. Building with light, snow, someone walked a heart in the snow. Sure.

But as you look longer, more things come up. This was taken on election night and the streets were completely empty. The building is a senior citizens home that has a lot of veterans and also empty rooms. It's an old building, falling apart and probably wont' be used for it's purpose much longer. The yellow light from the window contrasts with the blue light creating tension. Depending on your thoughts on senior living centers, there's tension there. The flag isn't flying on election night - tension. There's a heart which is nice but it it's cold, walked through, used and what is it loving? So tension there.

Then there are these eyes on the left side. Maybe you missed those. It's like some sort of beast peering through the dark and that creates tension. (it's actually windows in a house and they turned off before I could get another composition of the scene so it's a good moment.)

When i saw this, I just had a lot of questions. The building is both welcoming with the bright Lighthouse like light but eery with blank windows and conflicting colors.

Anyway. Enjoy!

"Tension"
Greeley, CO, USA
Canon EOS R6m2 - ISO 5000 - 24mm - f/4 - 1/40 sec

19/11/2024

"I Need Your Help - Which Are Your Favorites"

Alright Gang, I have a bit of a contest coming up. Prize is worth more than money. It's bragging rights. So before I submit, I'm asking the peanut gallery.

The contest is to either shoot a pano or crop a photo to a 6x17 composition. 6x17 is a classic frame size for film cameras and we're limiting our frames to that size as a challenge. The photos need to be taken in the past week or so and these are what I have.

What are your thoughts?

14/11/2024

"Listen. It's Fine."

I know 98% of y'all don't like B&W photos but, listen gang, I do and it's fine. I'll explain.

The light was hitting the canyon walls across from me and when I shot it, I had B&W in mind and I really like how it turned out. The smoothness of the lines and how the spurs of the hill reach down into the shadows like putting your toes in the sand. It's a relaxing photo for me in black and white. One of my favs from that brief stay, actually.

Some scenes are naturally grayscale and tend toward black and white so editing with that in mind makes sense.

Sometimes B&W redirects the focus and tells a different story than color does. It can make things clearer, more relaxed, easy. Or it can add tension.

For this photo, it was all monotone but it was red monotone - so just all reds and rust. You can see a bit of that in the other Arizona photos. Without sky, it's mostly uniform shades that don't really lend to good photos. And I think this is a good photo.

So, again: it's fine.

Cheers fam. We're brining it back!!

"Listen. It's Fine."
Virgin River Canyon, AZ, USA
Canon EOS R6m2 - ISO 100 - 105mm - f/9 - 1/100 sec

12/11/2024

"Memorializing Veterans"

This is the Vets memorial at the park in the town I enlisted in. My name's in there and I'm never sure how I feel about this memorial. I avoid it, typically.

I'm doing a project and this park is part of that project which means this memorial is as well. These three photos are scouting images, just images I take quick for ideas. I have a lot of this memorial and I don't know how I want to shoot it. These unedited photos are sort of capturing my mood around it I think.

What do y'all think?

I don't know that I want to compose something or tell a story or things like that. I don't know what it is. But here it is.

More will come as I put the project together or I may omit it entirely as that in itself would be a narrative.

Anyway.

"Memorializing Veterans"
Greeley, CO, USA

11/11/2024

OK, I think we all just need to take a breath and calm down.

08/11/2024

"Hello Winter My Old Friend"

It's apparently and I fully support that. It finally started snowing this week which always shifts my perspective. Regular scenes become new and there's beauty where there was typical.

This is the same park I've walked, biked, driven past, and walked through millions of times but with this sunset and the snow, it took on a new feel.

It'll be a part of a new series, a passion project I'm doing over the next year. So if you see a guy just out and about with a camera and it seems weird, just leave him alone. He's fine.

Stay awesome, Gang.

"Hello Winter My Old Friend"
Bittersweet Park, Greeley, CO, USA
Canon EOS R6m2 - ISO 100 - 85mm - f/8 - 1/200 sec

07/11/2024

"Hopeful Horizon"

I have a lot of compositions of this sunset in the Mojave. It was my first time really getting out there and off the beaten path and the beauty of the moment matched what I felt in my soul.

I know. Ew gross feelings. But that's the reality of the moment and I like authenticity.

I like how the light touched the rocks and warmed the scene and the sun shines in across the sky, highlighting the clouds then fades into deep peaceful blue. It feels hopeful and I think that's a good thing for today.

Kind of a make love not war vibe.

Cheers!

"Hopeful Horizon"
Mojave Desert, CA, USA
Canon EOS R6ii - ISO 100 - 24mm - f/11 - 1/25 sec

01/11/2024

"Time"

Forgive the artsy title and what follows but I like it and it's my page. So.

Everything about these photos is about time and life. The ocean is both alive and nonliving and I used long exposure to pause it. The dead branches in the surf, other flotsam and debris - it's that whole thing of there is beauty in death just as there is in life. And noticing the time that passes is important. These photos are sort of an attempt to pause life to prevent further decay and to catch the beauty of that moment.

Also,

I had never done long exposure before so I took some time to experiment with that at one of my favorite places in the world which I won't share here but if you travel with me or stick around, we'll see each other there.

Alright Fam. Stay safe out there.

"Time"
Undisclosed Location, near Cambria, CA, USA
Canon EOS R - ISO 100 - 70mm - f/22 - 6 sec
All about the same

29/10/2024

"National Cat Day"

There are some kids, some birds, and a dog in this scene so I'd say it stands to reason that there are also cats present. Therefore, is an appropriate number sign to post. Bring on the followers.

I really liked the diversity of this scene. The sunset over the ocean, light washing on a beach, mountains in the background with a sky accented by clouds. But also an overflowing parking lot in contrast. And a manmade path dissecting the beach with hundreds of people moving about like ants.

Whether on purpose or not, I like the dichotomy of nature and human imprint. The marks and scars humans leave in nature is intriguing. Like a decaying building - there's beauty in the brokenness in a way.

Not that this beach is broken. It's Santa Monica Pier so you decide, but the mix of the rich and poor, the local and the tourist, nature and man - add in some great Golden Hour light and spots of color and you got yourself a photo, Gang.

Cheers!

"National Cat Day"
Santa Monica Pier, CA, USA
Canon EOS R - ISO 640 - 24 mm - f/5.6 - 1/640 sec
(wonky settings because I was experimenting with new camera body at the time)

26/10/2024

"Rorschach Cloud"
What does it look like to you?

When I got Bill (Land Rover named after Samwise Gamgee's pony from LOTR), the first trip I took was along good ol' I-70 to California. Finally, I was going to be able to get off the road, deep on some dirt roads, and get lost in the amazing landscapes I'd seen while making that drive countless times before.

This was the first stop. I was staying on BLM land because it's free, gets as remote as you want, and offers good photo opportunities. I was still messing with my new camera (STILL excited about it) so I was experimenting.

I really like this photo. It's simple. I know most of y'all don't like black and white but I do. It's a quintessential landscape photo that has some trees, clouds, and mountains. But it's just a few trees, not chaotic, just one cloud, and one mountain. It feels underwhelming but peaceful and simple.

So named because then you can comment and say what you think the cloud looks like. Get that engagement going, Gang!

Cheers!

"Rorschach Cloud"
Somewhere near Rile, Colorado, USA
Canon EOS R6m2 - ISO 100 - 165 mm - f/11 - 1/80 sec

21/10/2024

"U-Tah Mood"

See, because it's like U-Haul but U-Tah. Because I took it when I was moving my storage/home base from California to Colorado. And it was a dark, blue, moody sunrise - even the warm light of golden hour shone cold on the sandy formations far away from paved roads.

Normally on my trips in Ace - my sports car red 2016 Jetta - I'd make the trip in two days. From Northern Colorado to St. George then St. George to LA. That way, I only had to do one hotel and I could save on food, etc. But the drive on I-70 between Denver and the edge of Arizona is the most beautiful road in America.

No, you're wrong, it is.

Anyway.

Along the route I'd always seen these great photo opportunities and always wanted to spend more time on the route. So when I got my Land Rover (sadly it died) and a rooftop tent, I took 5 days each way and stayed on BLM land and far down trails in Utah. It ended up being cheaper and very life-giving. Staying in the wilderness always shakes the dust off my heart and soul and I'd plans to live pretty much full time from the Land Rover - just writing and photography-ing.

Eventually I felt it would result in some income as there were and are surmounting bills and debt that i can't address. It's not running or fleeing but an insatiable call on my life that I can't put off. Still working out how to communicate all that.

But also hence the title. Of transporting my emotions and workings of things out around the wilderness. I'm hauling them around and expressing the moods.

It's a lot like this photo which is why I'm posting it.

Self indulgent?

Yes.

Do I apologize for that?

No. At least not on social media but probably would in person.

Enjoy!

"U-Tah Mood"
San Rafael Swell, UT, USA
Canon EOS R6m2 - ISO 100 - 60 mm - f/11 - 1/20 sec