I am doing a yearlong photo challenge called 52Frames where we get a challenge each week for a photo. Week one’s challenge is a self-portrait. Kind of a hard one for me, tough to be creative for me on the front side of the camera. So, I went basic and found a brick wall, used a low aperture and shot a black and white photo.

This was also one of the first photos I took with my new to me Fuji XT1 camera I picked up on eBay for $200. I used an old manual focus lens, a Minolta 50mm f1.7. Kind of fun going back to basics and taking out some of the auto features on the new cameras.

The challenge for me was being on the other side of the camera. I went with a brick wall background, black and white, and a wide open aperture.

Next week’s challenge is Leading Lines.

• Attended a storytelling workshop put on by Muse and Fujifilm. Before the workshop I wandered around Portland and took a couple photos.

During the workshop they had us take a self portrait while being interviewed and then hand those photos up after we had signed them.

It was a good day with a lot of good information put on by Muse Storytelling and Fujifilm.

Josue Rivas talked about storytelling and his journey as an indigenous creator and storyteller. Very inspirational, check out his stuff here: https://www.josuerivasfoto.com

And a nice sunset on the way out!

All photos taken with my iPhone X. The best camera is the one you have with you.

Quick getaway for a couple days in Taft, Oregon.

Started with wine tasting at Chateau Bianca!

Hung out at the coast and enjoyed the weather! Drove down South of Yachats to Thor’s Well.

Ate out a few times as well. Mo’s, The Litehouse, and our favorite, The Rogue Brewery!

On the last night we had decent light for sunset.

The wave photos were taken with a Sony a7, some others with the iPhone X, and the sunset photos were taken with a Sony RX100 I got on Craigslist for $100! The best camera is the one you have with you! Cheers!

Labor Day Weekend was spent at Odell Lake camping and hanging out with family.  Jake fished with his grandpa, we ate, we drank, played games, and had a good time.  All images on this trip were taken with the Sony a7 with a 50mm f1.8 lens except the last two of the Ice machine and the tree full of birds, these were taken with an iPhone X.  The best camera is the one you have with you.

Spent the weekend at the Oregon Jamboree in Sweet Home, Oregon taking pictures and having a good time with friends and family.  Some of the acts:  Blackhawk, Hank Williams Jr, Terri Clark, Chris Young, Mitchell Tenpenny, Neal McCoy, and Brothers Osbourne.  See more photos here.

All photos were taken with a Sony a6000 with 55-210mm kit lens.  Worked really good during the day, at night I had to bump the ISO up pretty high to be able to get the shutter speed I needed to stop the action a get clear images.  Overall pretty happy with the outcome using an older kit you could pick up used for around $500.  

The best cameral is the one you have with you.  Cheers!