UltraSonicUSA

Sitting back, and thinking all philosophical as the sun sets on something that inflicted no small amount of psychological control and abuse, I think a little clearer.

From where I sit, tools that were never designed with professional or expert usage in mind, and those that were are a lot more fun to use than those bridging the gap in between.  With some leeway and fuzz to either side of course (point and shoots like the Leica Q2 come to mind, though one might expect superior performance to accompany its $5000 price tag).

Rather it's the Nikon Z7, or D6, the Canon Mk5, or the little 110 "toy" camera, or the disposable that offer the greatest experience.  I'm personally fortunate enough to shoot with a Leica M these days, and even own my own copy of the legendary Noctilux.  But, if given the chance to get out and play, the Noctilux is not actually my favorite lens.  It's up there, don't get me wrong, but its razor thin depth of field, weight, and how easy it can be to overexpose, bring me to another lens in my arsenal, the Leica 28mm Summaron remake.  This is a lens that Leica decided bring back to life around 70 years after it was originally discontinued, it's slow, it vignettes a lot, and it tends to shift color a little bit to the warmer side... and I absolutely love it.  It's one of those lenses that kind of epitomizes F8 and be there.  I have another favorite camera though, and it's a little Kodak 64 point and shoot.  Decades ago, before I was even born, it belonged to my grandmother.  It's a little Kodak 110 point and shoot, I intend to use and take great care of it.  Maybe one day even post some of those images here.

So what's the point then?  Why not just buy a $20 disposable and call it good?  For the same reason an engineer doesn't settle for just a crayon and a straight edge, and the same reason they sometimes grow sick of the computer doing everything, and they take matters into their own hands, literally.  Analog tools, that get out of your way, that relinquish all control to the user, in the hands of someone skilled in their usage is where the term artisan takes its origins in the first place.  Anybody can use a mold, or a pattern, but it takes someone with vision to pick up a needle and thread, and create something unique by hand.  Or to pick up that pencil and pad, or stylus and pad, or a purely manual camera and create something unique.

Unique to the extent possible anyway, it has been said that art is imitation, and that statement has its merits, even I've been known to use a preset and work from there.  Ultimately though it's a poor craftsman who blames their tools, but given the chance, any craftsman would pick precise, reliable tools that feel good in the hand.  A tool that becomes an extension of them so they can use it to create their vision, rather than giving input to a computer and the computer deciding what the image should be.  Technology that puts the end user in control, and makes no decisions on its own, regardless of its capability, is what allows that to happen.

Another long time no journal.  A lot has happened since that last October update, but then I suppose spans of nearly a year are like that.

I focus on instagram a lot now (cliche, I know, but hear me out).  Engagement and finding an audience on deviantART has become practically impossible.  There's no more 15 milliseconds of fame, I don't think there's as many users anymore, but I'll still stop in from time to time.  This just isn't where I'll be posting first.  I'm still debating on things such as the Hasselblad Masters contest, or Leica's Oskar Barnack award.  I don't think I'm considered a "professional" by their standards though.

There's a good deal of hardship, travel, and change on the road ahead, I'll have my camera every step of the way, as I maneuver through not less than three paradigm shifts in the next 4 years.