Milestones
This fall, I had the privilege of watching my sons, Colin and Miles, achieve new milestones in their sports. Colin ran his first cross country season for Ithaca College, while Miles completed his second year of volleyball. Both stepped up to their challenges in ways that made me incredibly proud.
For Colin, this season was all about transitions. Taking on collegiate competition, he faced every race with grit and determination. Each run tested his limits and taught him something new, and seeing him embrace this experience was inspiring. It wasn’t just about running—it was about resilience and personal growth.
Miles, on the other hand, turned a summer of hard work into a standout volleyball season. His effort paid off in every exciting match and the camaraderie he built with his teammates. Watching him fall deeper in love with the game and thrive on the court was a joy.
Their seasons reminded me that success isn’t just about results—it’s about effort, passion, and the connections made along the way. As their chapters close, I’m filled with gratitude and excitement to see what comes next for them.
Yellowstone, continued... Grand Prismatic & Mammoth Hot Springs
Grand Prismatic
I’ve never seen anything quite like Grand Prismatic. Even Iceland couldn’t prepare me for the explosion of color created by the microbial mats and minerals. One moment, you’re looking at a typical hot spring, common in Yellowstone, and the next, you’re faced with such vibrant colors that it feels almost jarring—like you’ve stepped into another world.
Mammoth Hot Springs
If Grand Prismatic was otherworldly in its color, Mammoth Hot Springs was equally alien in structure. The terraces formed by calcium carbonate deposits create a landscape that feels like something from another planet. Layer upon layer, the formations cascade down, looking more like frozen waterfalls or intricate carvings than natural geological features. The stark white of the travertine against the blue sky is both beautiful and eerie, making Mammoth Hot Springs a place that is as mesmerizing as it is surreal.
Yellowstone, Tetons & Poor Muscle Memory
I often find myself either struggling with drafting and posting here or succumbing to the allure of easy-to-use platforms like Meta, Google, or X. Por que no los dos?
Either way, I’m back at it and determined to do much better here. And what better way to start than by sharing photos from an epic trip?
So, without further ado, here's the beginning of what will likely be a few weeks' worth of photos from our trip to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. When deciding where to start, I went back and forth but ultimately chose the most obvious: Old Faithful.
Let me know what you think, and I’ll keep posting new work!
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Eclipse?
This week, as the eagerly anticipated eclipse drew near, residing in Rochester, NY, I was filled with anticipation to capture some breathtaking photographs of the corona and the overall event. Unfortunately, the weather had its own agenda, resulting in a complete absence of eclipse visibility due to cloud cover. Despite the inevitable disappointment, Rochester's unpredictable weather is something one learns to navigate with a sense of resignation.
However, it's worth noting that the brief span of darkness, coupled with the dramatic cloud formations, lent an eerie atmosphere to the day. This unique experience was further enhanced by sharing this moment with our friends and neighbors. Below is a selection of photographs I managed to take, offering a glimpse into the event's subtle beauty.
How was your experience? Did you have better luck?
Shipping up to Boston
A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to spend some time in Boston as my son participated in the New Balance Indoor Track Nationals. Of course, we took the opportunity to spend some additional time in the city with some family. I took a lot of photos, so this is going to end up being a series. I’ll start with some shots from around town. Stay tuned for more…
Up next:
New Balance Indoor Nationals
Street Performers of Boston
Miniature Worlds
This time of year always finds me in a state of creative flux with my photography. Whether due to boredom or a seasonal dip in mood, I find myself more open to experimentation.
Recently, during a visit to Ithaca, I spent some time on the Ithaca College campus and Taughannock Falls, delving into long exposures—a topic I'll explore in a future post. That feels on-brand to what I generally shoot though and while that’s fun, I've been keen on adopting new perspectives on subjects I might typically overlook.
So, a few weeks back, while in Pittsburgh, this approach led me to an unexpected source of nostalgia. At the Phipps Conservatory, amidst the usual displays, I stumbled upon an elaborate miniature train set. It was an instant throwback to my childhood, reigniting my old fascination with these tiny, intricate worlds.
Inspired, I captured several scenes in a 16x19 format to create a storyboard, hoping to convey the whimsy and wonder of that moment. I'm curious to hear your thoughts. Are there objects or scenes that unexpectedly transport you back in time? What do you do to break through the creative flux?
The Winter that Never Was
It used to be fun. It used to snow. Now it is a collection of grey days, tied together with fog and rain.
Vegas, Baby!
Last week's Vegas trip to catch Bruno Mars live was quite the ride! If you would have told me that Vegas would be a regular in our travel rotation, I wouldn’t have thought it possible. However, it is becoming a bit of a regular for us now.
I've got to admit, Vegas has its own unique charm. The city's always buzzing and there is always something to see or photograph. This time, I tried to capture the energy both during the day and night. As usual, it did not disappoint.
Day
Night
Once a Week is Difficult!
I write this while sitting in Las Vegas, preparing to head out and wander the streets with a camera… realizing that it is Wednesday already and since I wrote last, I’ve been to Pittsburgh also and have barely touched any of those photos. Posting anything intentional once a week is proving to be difficult, but I am finding it to be a really solid deadline to keep me focused on doing something more than just filling hard drives with photos.
So, a few things:
I’m definitely leaning into these commitments, which is great!
I presume that at some point my schedule will relent and I can get back to this list of goals
I got some photos of Pittsburgh that I liked!
Until then, I hope you like these quick shots from the Pitt campus :)
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From a Window Seat
This week's post is a bit on the shorter side (and a day late), as it's been chock-full of great, albeit time-consuming, endeavors. I took on the generally daunting task of migrating to a new MacBook. It's a chore, sure, but it's also a welcome refresh, and a sort of digital spring cleaning.
On top of that, it's been a hustling period at work. The kind of busy that's invigorating, but also all-consuming. Consequently, my camera's been gathering a bit too much dust for my liking. However, that's about to change.
Later this week, I'm off to Pittsburgh with my son for a college visit. It's a significant step for him and a proud moment for me. I'm looking forward to capturing the vibe of the city and the campus.
Following that, I'll be in Las Vegas to fulfill a wish for my son. As always, I'm eager to return to LV and see how the city's vibrant lights and energetic streets inspire my photography.
So, while this week may have been light on the shutter clicks, the next couple should make up for it. Until my next post, enjoy your week, keep an eye out for those unexpected moments worth capturing, and enjoy a few photos from the office window.
Building Muscle Memory
Great news: I'm brimming with ideas for this site's potential. The slight hitch? Many of these concepts are pretty grand in scale. So, instead of shoehorning them into a format that doesn't do justice, I'm sticking to my guns. Tuesdays remain our sacred publishing day. But here's the twist: I'm also fine-tuning the rollout plan for the bigger projects.
What does this mean for you? Well, to get into the groove of consistently sharing photos here, I'll be peppering in posts featuring snapshots I've taken recently. Consider this post a taste of that - a glimpse into my week, if you will. Hope it adds a bit of flair to your day!
To give you a clearer picture of the more extensive content I'm planning to share, here are some ideas I've been mulling over. Each of these could unfold over several posts. I'm all ears for your thoughts, so feel free to drop your preferences in the comments or shoot me a message through the contact form. If there's something else you're itching to see, let me know!
Topics on My Radar:
Travel Deep Dive:
Iceland
Switzerland
Alaska
Las Vegas
Toronto
Montreal
United Kingdom
And probably a few more surprises…
Photography as a Legacy:
The significance of what we choose to capture and share.
The undervalued benefit of printing photos.
The heritage of photography across generations.
My Photographic Process:
A peek into my current post-processing workflow.
Demystifying presets: When they're a hit and when to skip.
The art of giving your photos the time they deserve – before and during editing.
Gear Reviews and Thoughts:
Fujifilm X-T5: A Long Term Review.
My take on the Fujifilm X-Pro 3.
Why the Fujifilm X-T3 is still a great camera.
Lenses: My Views and Uses:
Zooms: Why they're a mainstay in my kit.
Primes: Picking the perfect moments for them.
Inside My Camera Bag:
My daily essentials.
My travel kit.
General gear that never fails to impress.
The Creative Act, by Rick Rubin:
Diving deep into the insights and inspirations.
Recent Photos
Some Outdoor Scenes
And, as always, Running :)
It has been quite a year!
Throughout the last year, I've found myself picking up the pieces from various losses and confronting some profound, adult feelings. Feelings like "At this point, how do I help my sons continue to become solid men?" or "What do I carry forward from the loss of loved ones, and what do I leave behind?" have been at the forefront of my mind. I've also grappled with thoughts about caring for aging parents, my own aging, and what to do with my time when my sons no longer need it as much.
Amidst all this, I've had to ponder how to heal from the past without dwelling on it and what it means when the institutions I've grown up respecting seem to continually fail. It's been a year of introspection and growth, to say the least.
Without delving too deep into these topics, as they are still being actively processed in my mind, I've come to learn a few things that have helped me to contextualize each of these questions.
Opinions I have formed:
Traveling is healing: There's something about getting out of your own space that's incredibly healing. Seeing how others live and developing a global sense of empathy connects you to a larger purpose. We are all part of the same tribe, and it's important to act accordingly. A recent trip to Iceland really brought this home for me as we found ourselves literally in the middle of nowhere, surrounded by people with the same goals, desires and ambitions. We are not as unique as we believe.
Social media is cancer (but not always): Despite its name, social media can often feel like the antithesis of social connection. It creates an illusion, feeding our fears, loves, desires, and comforts at an alarming rate, all while being devoid of genuine, meaningful interaction. However, it's not all bad when used mindfully.
In this light, I've also come to view most "News" outside of sources like Reuters or The Associated Press as skewed, propaganda and devoid of anything other than an echo chamber, playing to our base fears.
I have wasted time: The tech adage, "if a product is free, YOU are the product," rings true. Despite knowing this, I still feel the pull of these "social" platforms. I need to be more disciplined in using these platforms for my benefit, rather than building theirs.
Consistency over perfection: Striving for perfection can often hinder progress. Breaking this barrier with consistent actions is key. Want to run a marathon? Start with consistent short runs. Need to get out of a creative rut? Just pick up your camera and start shooting. It's the act of creating that counts, not immediate results.
Goals for the New Year:
Travel more and connect with diverse people: I plan to continue traveling as much as possible, seeking to meet people from diverse backgrounds and learning from them.
Put social media in its place: I intend to control my social media usage, not the other way around. This means turning off all notifications, scheduling specific times for consumption, and focusing on what truly affects my life.
Prioritize my platform: Sharing my thoughts and work should start here, on my site. I prefer a few meaningful connections over millions of fleeting ones.
Embrace action over perfection: I want to focus on doing little things that matter to me, without being held back by the pursuit of perfection. This means continuously creating, regardless of the outcome or audience.
Commitments:
I have a back catalog of thousands of photos and many ideas on how I want to share them. So, I commit to creating one blog post per week this year, released every Tuesday. These posts will explore my travels, my photo capturing and editing processes, thoughts on new gear, and occasionally, introspective musings. While you might see me on social media, remember that my primary goal is to make this space a hub for genuine connection. So, feel free to reach out in the comments or via the contact form. I'd love to hear from you.
Until then...
Here are a few random photos from my recent travels to Las Vegas, Iceland, Zermatt, Alaska, and Sunset Beach. 🙂
I'm cautiously optimistic about this new phase of life. It feels like a disruption, standing on the brink of the next chapter. But with this perspective, I'm determined to avoid my greatest fear: just doing nothing.
Best of the Year
Well, 2023 has come to a close and like previous years, I find myself looking back on what was. For me, 2023 was a year filled with travel, sports and events, which is reflected in the photos I felt were my favorite.
If you’ve been following me here or on Instagram, I’d love to hear what you felt were your favorites.
Top 10
Now, as with any other list that I try to create, there are always honorable mentions. Here are the photos that I felt easily could have made the top ten, but for whatever reason, they ended up just outside of the cut.
Honorable Mentions
As Autumn Closes
The trees adorned in fiery attire,
Burning bright, as if they conspire.
Crimson leaves dance with the breeze,
Falling gently, like whispered pleas.
All photos shot over the course of two weekends in upstate NY with the Fuji X-T5 or Fuji X-Pro3
So much to do, so little time...
A compilation from the last two weeks
All Photos X-T5 & X-Pro3
Journey to Simplicity: Evolution and Rebirth in Photography
Ever experienced that peculiar mix of accomplishment and embarrassment when you realize your current progress makes your previous efforts seem inadequate? I'm currently in the midst of such a phase, and here's why.
Reflecting on the past decade, I've been immersed in capturing photos – for myself, clients, and events. This journey has been an incredible ride, filled with valuable lessons. Yet, as learning often goes, the more I explored, the deeper the rabbit holes of specialization I went down. Editing nuances, organizational strategies, the intricacies of color theory, the dynamics of composition, studying the masters, chasing the elusive "film-like look," debating the virtues of JPEG versus RAW, and the list goes on. Over time, I gained a comprehensive perspective and a certain level of mastery, but in retrospect, it's tough to discern a consistent voice, theme, or style. It's been an evolving canvas; cohesion has been a challenge.
Fast forward a few months ago – my frustration reached a boiling point. My perpetual quest has been to synthesize and refine my acquired skills, aiming for mastery. Yet, I found myself surrounded by a flurry of concepts that refused to coalesce seamlessly. As I said, it was frustrating.
How could I streamline my workflow? Enhance my mastery of composition? Seamlessly infuse color theory into my work? Minimize post-production by refining in-camera choices? Cultivate the confidence to abandon the RAW safety net in favor of JPEG?
And so, the snowball started rolling.
During a captivating trip to Iceland, I made a bold choice – shoot exclusively in JPEG. This decision compelled me to focus intently on my in-camera decisions, consciously curtailing post-production interventions. This shift was nerve-wracking yet unexpectedly liberating. It offered answers to some of my pressing questions:
Color Theory, to a certain extent, was dictated by the Fuji Film Simulation I selected during shooting, coupled with deliberate White Balance adjustments.
In post-processing, I found myself honing my edits to complement my in-camera selections, forsaking the wide-ranging possibilities that RAW provides.
Puffin or:
How I learned to Stop Worrying and Love the JPEG
Coincidentally, my MacBook Pro was grappling with it's storage space. This spurred me to confront a task that had been looming – evaluating my decade's worth of photos, redefining their ratings and filters, and overhauling my organization system. This overhaul felt long overdue, as if each new addition was piling on top of a foundation that had grown obsolete.
Simplicity became my guiding principle:
I devised a new categorization for my photos: "REJECTED" (for deletion), "PICKS" (flagged in Lightroom), and "SELECTS" (given a 5-star rating in Lightroom).
The remaining trove of photos, with sentimental value but not destined for the spotlight, I deemed "UNPICKED."
I put this method to the test, meticulously categorizing a decade's worth of images:
Reject or Pick.
Review Picks for Selects.
Delete Rejects.
Move forward.
This process bore out – all my photos were now effectively labeled as unpicked, pick, or select, facilitating the creation of Smart Collections based on this data. For instance, an "All Picks" Collection consolidated flagged images from various years, streamlining my culling process and making it so much easier to find what I need.
So, let's circle back for a moment. At this juncture, I had refined my approach to fieldwork, addressing concerns regarding color theory, composition, and the art of restraint for superior visual outcomes. Simultaneously, my photo library boasted greater coherence, navigability, and searchability. The remaining task was to bridge these two spheres.
Drawing inspiration from these dual threads, I reconfigured the organization of my library to align with my editing process. All presets were relocated to an Archive folder, leaving room for two preferred looks: "Signature Color" and "Signature Monochrome." These presets became my exclusive toolkit for a period, forming the basis for every image imported into Lightroom. Further adjustments were confined to localized enhancements. This emphasis on simplicity reinforced its significance.
If you've stayed with me thus far, we now possess:
Refined Shooting (informed in-camera choices)
Streamlined and Enhanced Organization (enhanced ratings, expulsion of rejects, effortless retrieval)
Distinctive Style (2 presets, bolstered by localized edits)
The final lingering question pertains to compositional improvement.
The solution is the same it always has been: practice. Mastery requires time, effort, and practice. By discarding the baggage accumulated over a decade, I feel unburdened and reinvigorated to rediscover my initial passion: crafting captivating compositions.
Months of deconstruction and reconstruction have led me here – a juncture where these ideas coalesce into a cohesive structure. I stand on the brink of inaugurating a new decade. Admittedly, reflecting on the past ten years exposes the stages of growth, learning, and missteps. It's humbling. However, there's no express route to mastery, and my commitment remains steadfast, reenergized, and unwavering.
Epilogue :)
Will I continue shooting RAW? Likely for client assignments. Yet, I'm inclined to explore the interplay between JPEG and RAW, testing their outcomes. Given the nature of my commissioned work, I doubt anyone would discern or mind the distinction, as long as the end result is impeccable. My confidence in this approach, particularly in the domain of JPEG, is steadily soaring.
Are you interested in learning more about any of these topics? Let me know in the comments
A few JPEGs from Iceland (more to come soon)
Another year around the sun...
A birthday has come, a birthday has gone. With it, as usual, emerges ideas for improvement, challenge, and (hopefully) growth. Among this year's goals, I am attempting to spark some creative joy back into my photography by attempting, once again, a 365 day project. This is largely born from a long-term feeling of stagnation and boredom. I could blame it on COVID sucking the life out of me, but the truth is that I feel the old processes are failing me. Where I once found play, there is work.
So, what do I hope will spark some change? Frankly, limitation. I intend to limit my creativity to shooting at least one photo per day for 365 days and that photo has to be a JPEG. This will hopefully do a few things:
Limit my ability to correct in post
Force me to be more considered in-camera
Hopefully limit my need for post
Help me to shoot more and edit less (I got into photography to observe and capture the world around me, not sit at a computer more)
The last successful 365 day project I completed was nearly 10 years ago now, but I do attribute that experience with such a dramatic sense of growth. Here is to hoping that this year will see something similar!
As always, these images will be posted here and on Instagram. Cheers to another year of growth, learning, and adventure!
A few photos from the weekend
Capturing the Spirit of the Gorges Ithaca Half Marathon: A Race Photography Reflection
I was delighted to be invited by Ron @ GF Media to photograph this year's Gorges Ithaca Half Marathon. It had been a while since I had captured a race, and although I was confident in my abilities, I couldn't help but feel a bit unsure about the quality of my work. Race photography requires a different skill set than taking portraits or shooting for oneself, as you have to set up and compose your shot quickly before the runners pass by.
Despite my worries, I woke up early and traveled to Ithaca to meet Ron, as we have done many times before. We had a general idea of where we wanted to shoot, and we trusted each other's skills. My aim was to capture images that made the runners feel proud and accomplished - something they could look at and think, "I kick ass."
During the day, I reflected on our philosophy and realized that Ron and I share the belief that our goal for the day is to bring positivity and joy to people's lives. We know that the races we photograph are challenging, and we want to celebrate the efforts of every participant - from the first to the last. We could easily set up a camera and take unedited shots, but that's not our style. We believe that we can do so much more by capturing and honoring their achievements.
One of the things that struck me the most was the sheer determination on the runners' faces. Some were gritting their teeth, some were smiling through the pain, and some were just looking absolutely exhausted. But every single one of them was pushing themselves forward, step by step, mile by mile. And as I captured those moments on camera, I realized that this is what it's all about - not just the final outcome, but the journey to get there.
As the day drew to a close and the runners crossed the finish line one by one, I felt a sense of accomplishment wash over me. Yes, I had captured some incredible photographs, but more than that, I had been a part of something truly special. I had seen people push themselves farther than they ever thought possible, and I had been there to capture those moments of triumph. And when I looked back at my photos, I knew that each one of them represented a story - a story of hard work, determination, and an unyielding spirit. And that, perhaps, is the true spirit of the Gorges Ithaca Half Marathon.
Here is a collection of some of my favorites. I'd love to know what you think.
Full Collection Here: Gorges Half Marathon | RNR - 2023 by Ron Heerkens Jr / Goat Factory Media Entertainment