Doc's Odyssey (2025)

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

18/10/2024

"The house isn't upside down. YOU'RE upside down."

Does it look cool if you flip it? Yes. And if you want to buy a print and flip it and hang it, that's up to you. But I'm not going to. I've made my decision and I will die on this hill.

My process has changed as does every photographer as they move forward. At first it was taking 50 pictures of one thing then trying to "find" the photo in Lightroom. Then editing the sheet out of it. My setting weren't great, information was lost, there were a LOT of Photo 101 compositions (like, A - LOT, fam. So many.), and I'd do things like tilt the camera or flip a composition. But I found my voice and eye and now when I shoot, I know what I'm going to do in post before I shoot it.

I do edit more than most purists. I'd say probably 25% of the art for me is in Lightroom. While I stay true to what the actual colors of the scene were in person and I don't photoshop things out and I don't use AI, but I do tweak to portray the "feel" I felt in my feels in feeling of the moment.

So there ya go, gang. It's not upside down but feel free to flip it if you want.

Cheers!

"The House Isn't Upside Down. YOU'RE Upside Down."
AKA "Bittersweet House"
Bittersweet Park, Greeley, CO, USA
Canon EOS R6m2 - ISO 100 - 105 mm - f/5.6 - 1/125 sec

11/10/2024

"Moon Shot Out of Lava Tube - A Memoir"

Have you noticed how adding "A Memoir" to a sentence just makes it better? Well now you have.

So here we are in the Mojave desert facing away from the sunset and watching the moon rise. Was supposed to be a special moon but I've forgotten what that was as it didn't do anything more spectacular than usual. Don't get me wrong, the moon is great, I'm pro-moon and I support it - it just wasn't doing a special thing like the news and socials were saying it would. I didn't expect it to tap dance or reveal just what kind of cheese its made of, but I did expect it to be brighter or bigger or organger or something.

So I waited until the colors were good and a jet stream lined up with the top of the mountain and it looked like it was being shot out of the tip.

That's not actually a mountain, by the way. It's a lava tube. I'm not sure what that means, exactly, as I did not explore but I think you can go down in them like the worm tracks in Dune. Or the path the Technodrome leaves in teenage mutant ninja turtles. Turtle power, fam. Turtle Power.

The entire evening was filled with great light, good feels, and great photography. Perfect temperature and ambience to fall asleep in a rooftop tent.

Here's to hoping for more trips and better shots
Cheers!

"Moon Shot Out of Lava Tube - A Memoir"
Mojave Desert, CA, USA
Canon EOS R6m2 - ISO 100 - 24 mm - f/9 - 1/250 sec

09/10/2024

"Mojave Sunset?"

I couldn't think of a more clever title hence the Ron Burgundy-esque punctuation.

But, as the apt title suggests, this is a photo I took in the Mojave desert at sunset.

All Tom Foolery aside, gang, this photo is pretty meaningful for me. I had a Land Rover whom I'd named Bill (like Samwise's pony in LOTR) with a rooftop tent. I'd removed the rear seats and had my photography gear, cooking stuff, and had planned on traveling around the western US and down into Baja for a year or two just writing, taking photos, making films, and living out who I know I've become.

On this particular trip driving between California and Colorado on the ever-present road in my life, I-70, I was able to stop at many of the places I'd always wanted to take photos and just exist in. Believe me when I say I have never, in my life, felt more peace and sense of purpose and being EXACTLY where I was supposed to be than I have on this trip.

That overwhelming feeling of, "yeah. I've found it." hit me after shooting this sunset and sitting by my fire. I was 12 miles from the nearest "town" if we can call it that and one needed 4WD to get to where I was. It was perfect.

I completed the trip to Colorado with the intent of having a home base there and traveling full time and, of course, the Land Rover broke down. Because of the Colorado laws around old vehicles, I was unable to work on it myself and had to sell it.

And that hurt.

Not sure how, if, or when I'll be able to get back out there but this photo (and the ones to follow) are all filled with a sense of purpose for me. Discovery of self, this world, and more.

I know, poetic and nonsense but actually very true.

Anyway, enjoy it or you'll hurt my feelings and that's not allowed.

Cheers!

“Mojave Sunset?"
Mojave Desert, CA, USA
Canon EOS R6m2 - ISO 100 - 105 mm - f/11 - 1/40 sec

27/09/2024

I have some great travel plans coming up that I can't share yet, still working out details and such. Well, to be honest, still working out the actual plan. Haven't even gotten to details yet. Had some friends suggest the ol' "dart at the globe" trick. World is 71% water, y'all. I Googled it.

26/09/2024

“Classic Arizona Shot but, Like, Better. In My Opinion, Anyway."

Alright, we're back on the socials after a bit of a hiatus.

I've some new shots from 2024, a new plan for the next 12 months and finally getting some traction, some forward progress.

As I've been commuting between California and Colorado, wearing ruts in I-70 over the Rockies, through uninhabited stretches of Utah, canyons of Arizona, and into the barren stretches of Nevada and Southern California, I've been stopping to take photos of places I note in my travels.

Sadly, I will be retiring the route with pro ably 95% of the shots marked on my GPS untaken; however, life dictates a different but exciting direction.

More to follow.

In the meantime, enjoy this shot. All day the light was not cooperating. I had dramatic clouds but not light on anything around me. I was on an outcropping surrounded by canyon walls like this shot but NO LIGHT. Had it been less windy, I'd have given up, lit a fire, and smoked a cigar BUT I decided to wait for the light. And I'm glad I did, the sun peaked below the cloud cover and lit up the wall across from me in a dramatic way. This is one of my favorite shots from that trip.

So there you go. Wait for the light. That's a photography thing and a Life in General advice from Doc. Take a pause and wait it out.

Cheers!

“Classic Arizona Shot but, Like, Better. In My Opinion, Anyway."
NW corner of Arizona, USA
Canon EOS R6m2 - ISO 100 - 85 mm - f/9 - 1/160 sec

Doc's Odyssey