This is the time of year I'm not fond of - from a photo standpoint. Everything - at least where I live - is just drab and unappealing. I'm just going through the motions at the moment - experimenting with different things. This is one of the reasons I have so many different tools to work with. Even still -- I can't seem to settle on one thing to work with at the moment. I think the problem is I'm not finding interesting subjects. I need to keep looking - and trying out new things - I know I'll find a new path to explore soon.

I really love the Canon 5D - I'm amazed each time I look at the images on the screen. Even the RAW images are superb. Amazing detail - and the best part, for me - is having full frame - the perspective I grew up with - that I learned with - I now have again. I just couldn't get used to the crop factor with other cameras. I'll still keep my 20D -- the crop factor has its benefits -- I like it for macro work.

I've been reading and looking at a bazillion photo books lately -- just looking -- studying -- and analyzing what I'm seeing. I was thinking last night that I never seem to tire of looking at images -- any images. I find myself looking at the recently posted images on flickr - most of which are just snaps -- but I still learn something -- something about how the general population sees the world. I compare this with what I see in the stacks of photo books I have on my coffee table. I'm not sure what to make of it all -- but I think I'm learning something... Not sure what -- just yet. Something is wiggling around in my brain -- and I'm trying to work it out...

I need to figure out how to add a few static pages -- so I can put up a tutorial for night shots. I find myself typing the same information over and over. Not that I mind. I think it's great so many people are trying their hand at night photography. The questions and emails can just be a little overwhelming at times. I do find it a bit humorous when someone writes me to say it wasn't quite as easy as they thought it would be -- they used the settings I recommended -- the lens -- the camera -- the tripod -- but still -- their images were -- well -- not so good. Welcome to the real world of photography, I say -- it's not just the tools -- it's the brain and hand of the photographer -- it takes time to train them -- patience...

The world of work is insane these day - draining - stressful. I have friends out of work - and more to come. I wonder what the next year will bring - and I wonder if I'll be next. It seems that no one is safe these days from cost reductions - and down-sizing - I hate that word. I like what I do -- but doing what I do is tough these days - the people I deal with today may be gone tomorrow - people have lost their focus - people are running scared. Maybe it's just the companies I deal with... I'm working out my plan for my next career. Maybe a vending machine repairman...

I still haven't figured out how to embed a thumbnail for my RSS feeds -- I get lots of hate mail because I don't have it set up -- I think you can see my entry - but no thumbnail. Hey - I'm not a programmer - I'm a fucking salesman - salesmen don't do code -- we're too busy playing golf and spending all the company's money... Get off my back!

I'm finally getting out the prints I've promised to a few people -- I'm such the loser. I just kept putting it off because I thought it was so difficult to do - but it's not. Really quite simple. I got my test prints back last week - and I have to say I had a huge smile on my face when I opened the envelope. I've proabably shot more than a few dozen images over the last few years -- but printing NOTHING -- until now -- it's just amazing to see my work on the printed page. You would think I'd do more of it - being in the imaging business -- but it's sort of like the shoemaker's childrens' shoes -- something like that... I'm going to change that -- I'm determined to print out at least 10 of my favorite images in BIG size - and have them professionally framed -- then hang them for everyone to see...

So there -- there's my thinking for a Monday morning.

Everyone have a wonderful Turkey Day... Give thanks...