It has been a long time since I have chosen to share anything here. I am unsure why, it just is what it is. I am, however, doing much more writing here;

[link] it out and let me know what you think.

Back to the main topic. My first love. What is it? A woman? No. It is photography. When it was still hand wound rolls of black and white film developed in small plastic containers that the exposed film, in pitch blackness, was thread on a wheel. We used chemicals back then. I loved the smell of developer, stop and fix. Then we had to decide if we needed to push the film to get the correct exposure. Do I develop it just a little longer, without the danger of blowing out the brights? Do I hold back and try to remember (in those days I was generally in a perpetual state of THC induced forgetfulness) if I had made the correct exposures. Somehow, everything looked way cooler through the viewfinder, yes viewfinder, not a 4 inch HD screen. A real, up against your eye, compose the shot through the lens, viewfinder. After that was done, it was hang the negs to dry and hope I got one shot out of a roll of thirty-six.

Off to the other darkroom...the quintessential darkroom, red light and all...trays of the different baths, rubber tipped tongs and timers. It was beautiful. Generally hot and humid, sweat dripping off the end of my nose and landing in the fix bath or off my brow and into my eyes. Stinging like a bitch. There was at least one shot I was happy to have. When I had to pay for film and chemical and paper and more chemical, it was imperative that I became proficient in my craft. And I did. For a while. For a while you ask? That is another story.

I am happy to share with you that I was able to purchase new gear. That of the digital variety. A new digital SLR and a couple lenses. Even though the gear has evolved to the point it is almost, I repeat almost, idiot proof, I am more than grateful to have learned on a manual set up and all that entails. I still look through the viewfinder (it is somehow more natural) and I like to shoot in AP, SP or Manual mode. It is like riding a bike. An old familiar bike. Or better yet, falling in love all over again, with my first true love.