Film Advance

GAS is nasty business. It’s a close cousin to hoarding and, like that malady, it’s not only a terrible resource drain, but also a distraction that derails your intentions. Fixating on gear instead of the creative process distorts your perception of art. “If only I had Canikon DX150 — my pictures would be so much better!” It’s an easy trap to fall into. When one camera doesn’t produce the results you want, you try another, and then another, and then another. . .  That said, it’s true that for many photographers one camera won’t satisfy every creative ambition. So how do you get what you need and avoid a bad case of GAS? By following one basic rule. Continue reading →

Comet Hale-Bopp, Apri 1, 1997.
(Camera: Yashica FX-3 Super 2000; Lens: 50mm f/1.9 Yashinon with 2x tele-converter;
Film: Kodak Ultra Gold 400; 5-minutes @ f/4.)

One aspect of being an avid sky watcher is that the passage of time isn’t marked just with pages in a calendar, but also by gaps — the spaces between “once-in-a-lifetime” events. Looking at this photo of Comet Hale-Bopp now, I can scarcely believe that 15 years have elapsed since I aimed my camera skyward to capture it. The gap widens with each passing year spent watching amd waiting for the arrival of the next great comet. Continue reading →