vicksart Loc: Novato, CA -earthquake country

As always, well done. Thanks for sharing.

Earnest Botello Loc: Hockley, Texas

Great series, Cany.

SpyderJan Loc: New Smyrna Beach. FL

Great set Jim. I wonder how Ansel would feel now with a modern DSLR in his hands.

Cany143 Loc: SE Utah

Thanks for your comments and such, gang. You motivate me.

And for any who might want to get a slightly deeper understanding of where some of this specialization can go, and read a little about someone who put it into practice, please take a look at:

https://www.nps.gov/articles/cany-rock-art-photo.htm

Bud was a really good friend, and we shared thoughts and techniques with each other extensively, both in the office and in the field. He didn't know much about the other aspects of site documentation, but few in the world were able to do what he could do --within the context he worked-- with a camera and an inquiring mind.

fbeaston Loc: Vermont

That sounds like an outstanding project for any retiree ... & it has given me the inspiration to try to shoot an old site here in VT. Thanks for that.

Cany143 Loc: SE Utah

You might want to look into any local Preservation Societies, or whatever Vermont's version of Utah's SHPO (State Historical Preservation Office) might be, Frank. Focusing your photographic likes, skills, and interests toward some useful end could lead you places you might otherwise have never have known about, or even considered. Taking/making pretty pictures is all very well, but there's no reason why pretty pictures and purposeful imagery can't coincide.

Cany143 Loc: SE Utah

I don't think he'd really have cared. 8 x 10 Deardorff or Canikoji ZIX Mark Eleven gazillion megapixel sooper-camera, he'd only have been concerned about how he wanted the final print to look before he ever took the camera out of its case.

fbeaston Loc: Vermont

Thank you Jim ... excellent advice ... off the top of my head, I'm not sure where to look for that organization but I'll figure it out. I can also go to the state capital if I'm unable to find other sources of into. There is also a visitor center connected with the petroglyphs I'm thinking about & they may know where I should go. And I'm calling them petroglyphs because they're called that by others ... however instead of painted images, from the photos I've seen, they appear to be etched into the stone. But irrespective of the appropriate label ... they harken back to another time that I find very interesting. I'll let you know what I find out. Thanks for the response.

Cany143 Loc: SE Utah

Not to harp on about it (oh, yes I do!), but I expect you're talking about the petro site at Bellows Falls, eh? Interesting stuff, but there are additional sites not that far away from you, or at least within relatively easy range of where you live, and where you'd probably want to go (if you haven't already) for plenty of other photographic reasons. Stuff in NH, and ME, a big 'ol mega-site on Lake Erie in Ontario, and whoa geez! Nova Scotia!!! (After a hundred years or so, the jury's still out.... some can prove the Nova Scotia stuff is Native American, others can prove its Viking, still others can prove it was done in the 5th century by Saint Brendan hisself. [Me, I know it was done by Martians, or maybe somebody from Alpha Centuri, so....])

My point, however, in contacting some controlling agency/group/whatever is that's how you get 'known' a little, maybe get to produce a few images they like (and want!), which can lead to credentials, which can lead to knowledge and access of places and at times when and where the knuckle-dragging, mouth-breathing commoners are disallowed. Rock art? Sure. Ever thought about photographing inside historic but crumbling grounds/buildings where people aren't generally allowed to go? The list goes on from there. Use your imagination, and besides, what the hell: you're retired, aren't you? Got some other pressing work issue that keeps you from opening a few new doors?

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

Most people don't realize that Ansel Adams' greatest genius was in taking a negative and making the print look the way he wanted it. His darkroom skills were equal to or greater than his photography skills. His darkroom techs mostly just made copies after he developed the final result he wanted.
My first year teaching full time (1974-1975 school year) I got put in a slot to teach 5 periods of Basic Photography instead of history. As an advanced hobbyist I was the only one on the faculty who knew enough to replace the Photo Teacher who was promoted and became an administrator. (The Principal changed the class name to "History and Practice of Photography" so I could teach it under my credential.) And Adams came to town to give a presentation at UCLA. The local photo store that helped our school got me a ticket. It was a great night. The only time I was ever on the UCLA campus until our youngest attended starting in 2012.

Cany143 Loc: SE Utah

Sorta though everybody knew about Adams' darkroom skilz. Or everybody who cared, anyhow.

fbeaston Loc: Vermont

The last time I made a comment like this on one of your posts, you seemingly ate my lunch ... but Jim, I thoroughly enjoy your sense of humor. I'm also intrigued by your suggestions. And you're correct, I was in fact, talking about the site in Bellows Falls. So I will try to ID the higher level agency & contact them. And yes, I am retired & loving it ... although I've become so busy, it feels more like I'm still working. Between some volunteer photography work I'm doing plus I've managed to get accepted to an art show & market & getting a couple of images admitted into a small local gallery, has made life a bit crazy at the moment. But as I said, I am loving it. Best to you.

Cany143 Loc: SE Utah

Ate your lunch? Wut? You mean that time I said I was being deadly serious or something?

Bwahahahahaha.

Lobster is tasty. Got any fresh-out-of-the-trap-this-morning Maine 2 pounders handy? Gonna be busy around lunchtime tomorrow, but the day after that I'm free, and I'll bring my own hammer and nutcracker, too!

fbeaston Loc: Vermont

You do crack me up Sir ... & you're on ... you see, we New Englanders are far nicer than you folks from Oootah ... as we've written, you folks just try to grab all the money from every tourist when we come visit your lovely state ... but I will definitely treat you to a big "muthah lobstah" ... if you can pull yourself out of that beautiful state you live in!!!! Hell, I'll buy you 2!!!!

Cany143 Loc: SE Utah

I'm now going to plagiarize, but readapt very slightly to fit the circumstances, a short story a classmate (who I really didn't like very much) in college wrote upon his graduation:

"I used to live in New England, but then I grew a moustache."

Alternately, as was said of a cousin of mine upon moving from Michigan to Colorado: "he moved to Colorado and got quilted."

Plenty 'o butter with that lopsta, please.