Saugatuck Michigan.... a perfect small town to walk through.

Stop in at PHILLS RESTAURANT for lunch.

back in the late '60s through the 70's I worked for a Chicago school photography company ...during that time we (the staff of 50 shooters) used 4x5 for all the big groups (bands, sports teams, etc..) We used changing bags every day and sometimes several times a day. There was never a big fear of dust... shake the changing bag out and take the darn photo. We have loaded thousands of film holders on location... sometimes sitting on the floor, standing next to the stage, bleachers... tailgate of the truck... it's like changing a digital lens today.... use some care and make the image... PS. I worked 47 years as a school photographer.... was a great time... retired now for ten years I'm still photographing school events for the money. My friends have a disposable camera they plan on placing in my casket when the time comes. They say I'll figure out a way to send them some photos. lol.

When I was a young man a "kid" in 1967 working for RIDGE STUDIO in ROSELAND IL. The studio owner had two ROLlIES one Rolleiflex f2.8 and the Rolleiflex 3.5.... when we were both out photographing weddings he took the 2.8 and I got stuck with the f3.5 model. And a huge manual strobe... 5-10 pound graph flex full power flash burst output all day long... I had to carry a handkerchief to cover the flash head when moving in closer. Mom always complained about the brown stains I got on my handkerchiefs. The flash head was burning the handkerchief... "The truth"... ps til this day I still carry a handkerchief.

Crazy thinking back then, we never took backup cameras... too much money? or they never broke? I was a kid I didn't know... life was simple then..... 75-100 images all day for a wedding. Groups, families, and formals...

I too played with the KOWA 6 .... a beast and loud for sure... switched to Mamiya for years... then Bronica ER then SQ. Paid all the bills with those cameras... 70's and 80's were among my best times as a working pro... retired 10 years ago but still doing side gigs... My camera of choice these days is Nikon Z8 with several lenses... and lighting.

Looks like my kids will have to sell my stuff when I'm gone. I'm playing until the end.

Whoever gets to the great darkroom in the sky... save me a seat! Next to the window if possible. ;-)

1000 of sec
f 3.5
ISO 8000
Nikon Z8 70-200mm fl with FTZ

works for me.......

Yes there is noise.. nikon z8 Medium file size jpeg no processing

Photographic Sensitivity...
25,600 ISO

I did not run the photo through any denoise programs...

I have used ISO even higher.... it's like going to the doctor... if you look closer and closer you find something.

I'll look for other images with higher ISO...

decades ago, film ISO of 3200 "PUSHED processed" was the norm for lowlight sports... a noticeable big GRAIN/noise back then for sure, but the action of the scene over-ruled any noise-grain issues.

I'll try posting more....

just do it... I have not had any buddy complain about noise....

what a way to lose a match... BUTT, you can't win them all.

Nikon Z8
Nikon 70-200 2.8 FL with FTZII
1/800 sec. f 3.2
ISO 7200

sold my D850s and purchased Z8.... love it.. my everyday lens is a Nikon Z 24-120 f4.

after 50 years in the photographic field, it feels so exciting and fresh to learn about the mirrorless world...

my bird blind for photographing Hummers...... old fat guy with a bad hip.... just do it.

60 years ago..... Yashica D camera in my hands.... yearbook photographer back then.... young buck then old white hair fat guy now... many cameras since then... now I've graduated from the Nikon D850 to the Nikon Z8 and Z6II

I still love this world of photography! A sad note here... I have so many of my photos used as Mass cards for funerals of my collection of friends and family.


keep clicking....

"BUDDIES TIL THE END"

"BUDDIES AGAIN"

"JUST BUDDIES"

I was there some years ago... I still have the memory of so many of the headstones... "UNKNOWN".

My same trip was to ARLINGTON NATIONAL CEMETERY...

That's where every American should visit..... WOW...

Don't MISS this place.

my side of the story..... I have been a retired full-time photographer for 45+ years... I too said "no mirrorless"... I'm done. long live DSLRs.

Having owned most DSLRs that were made...My last DSLRs were 3-D500s body the trinity of lenses and 2-D850s.

I decided to downsize even though I still do side gigs and pleasure shoots. So I sold my D500s and my 200-500mm lens. I did replace the 200-500 with a 500mm pf. Again long live DSLRs.

Then becoming more interested and hearing others' stories.... I told myself if I sold my D850/w grip I'd purchase a Z8, Which was sold fast, and purchased the Z8 and FTZII plus a used like new 24-120mm Z lens. I'll keep the last D850 for backup.

I Fell in love with it and brought my interest and life back into my photography... 3D focus, eye tracking, pre-capture fast, quiet.... all the above and more.

Then Nikon had a recall.... hummmmm... when I purchased my Niko D810 back in its day, it too had a recall... and that camera is still working perfectly for my friend who owns it now. So the recall didn't bother me as much as a brief setback. 9 days.

My FTZ adapter was on backorder... when I got the call to pick it up. I was waiting in line and behind another photographer... his main camera just went down. He was there to purchase a Nikon D850.

I said I had one that I was considering selling. We chatted and three hours later... SOLD. Now first time in my career I only own one camera body. What happens when I send in my Z8 for the recall repair? So... my brains and cash dribbled out. I purchased a Z6II w/50mm 1.8 as my backup. So when I recoup... the 180-600mm may be next if I sell the 500mm PF.

And yes I'm happier.... just to be able to look into the viewfinder to see your image in the bright sun is reason enough.

There is a learning curve for sure.... but it's like getting a new computer to set up or a new car the figure out.

EXCITING TIMES.

Remember... "the clock stops for no one"

do what you want and can, ASAP... tick tick tick...

Very nice.... I had the idea to add some text to a fall image... just playing around... iPhone Snapseed for text

Snowflakes next!