Category: Sony A7r3

Waking Up to Antarctica

This part of New Mexico really got hit hard with this storm (Feb ’23). It was wetter snow than is usual for this place, weighing the trees down to the snapping point. Normal snow is so light that you can literally blow it away….makes for some nice skiing. There is more on the way combined with some high winds. It not only looks like Antarctica, it feels like it, and sounds like it!

Rating: 3 out of 3.

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5 responses to “Waking Up to Antarctica”

  1. Pepper Avatar
    Pepper

    Oh, that doesn’t sound good at all. Be careful.

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  2. Ronit Penso Tasty Eats Avatar
    Ronit Penso Tasty Eats

    At least you got these beautiful photos! 🙂

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  3. Tim Harlow Avatar
    Tim Harlow

    Absolutely beautiful! I have a bit of a technical question for you, and I hope you don’t mind me asking.

    Your monochromes are always so incredible. Do you shoot in black and white or convert the image in processing? Ok, two questions. In your final finish, are you applying any filters, like a warming or cooling filter? Very curious. Thanks!

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    1. Avatar
      Anonymous

      Hi, At times I apply a light warming filter only because that’s what this place feels like. Sepia-like is the tonality of the place. I do shoot in full color. I don’t want the camera’s algorithm deciding that for me. Then I use Photoshop for the B+W. I also use dodging and burning at times. And I try NOT to crop any image and usually don’t. The modern cameras do allow me to change the aspect ratios and I like having that choice. But that’s about all I do. If I have to spend too much time with a photo, I get rid of it. Any “tweaks” I need to make have to be minor and fast or else I lose patience with it and consider it an inferior image, not worthy of any more effort to “rescue” it. IMAGE>DELETE.

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      1. Tim Harlow Avatar
        Tim Harlow

        Thanks! I appreciate the insight. Glad to know you shoot in color as I do the same, then use the Photoshop as well. I do love your photos.

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Santa Fe Christmas Eve: Canyon Road 2022

Every year this very long road in the middle of Santa Fe, lights up for Christmas. And many of the people do the same. Lots of “walking Christmas trees” to be found there, cleverly disguised as human beings. Canyon Road draws people from everywhere because it’s renowned for the high quality art galleries. I’ve included one or two photos of that here.

A photographer from the Santa Fe New Mexican was on assignment to document the festivities. He wanted to photograph a group of us who were wearing particularly ostentatious lights. And of course I had to get into a conversation about his gear. And that gear was impressive! You’ll see a shot of it in the gallery.

From a technical point of view, this is a difficult assignment even though it’s filled with lights, color and motion. You’re being jossled every step of the way. But everyone is having a great time, often bursting into song at the sight of some light display that evokes song! This whole scenario puts any camera and photographer to the test. I was using a full-frame Sony with an f/1.8 lens. I don’t think it would be possible any other way. I had ISO on Auto, which I normally detest, but there’s no choice in these conditions. I learn a lot everytime I pick up the camera; and I guess that’s what it’s all about.

Well, Merry Christmas everyone, ’til next year.

Rating: 5 out of 5.

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7 responses to “Santa Fe Christmas Eve: Canyon Road 2022”

  1. Ronit Penso Tasty Eats Avatar
    Ronit Penso Tasty Eats

    Beautiful photos! Thanks for sharing.
    Happy Holidays! 🙂

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    1. Santa Fe and Me Avatar
      Santa Fe and Me

      Happy New Year. Looking forward to more of your posts!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  2. Greta DH Avatar
    Greta DH

    Quite an event on Christmas Eve! Beautiful captures, thanks for sharing.
    Happy Holidays!

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    1. Santa Fe and Me Avatar
      Santa Fe and Me

      Thanks and Happy New Year to you!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  3. Robin King Avatar
    Robin King

    What amazing images! I can only imagine what it took to get them. They’re absolutely glowing with life and celebration! WOW!!!! 👏👏👏👏👏

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  4. Tim Harlow Avatar
    Tim Harlow

    Thank you for the beautiful photos. Hope your Christmas was wonderful.

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    1. Avatar
      Anonymous

      Christmas: My favorite holiday and it was lovely from start to finish. I got into a little bit of trouble with a Bouche de Noel, if you’re familiar with that low-cal confection. Hope your Christmas was good was too!

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Clouds on Stage, Santa Fe

Early morning is a great time to shoot. Of course so is evening, but I’m an early bird, so those photo-ops suite me much more. I’m still not bored with photographing my immediate neighborhood and even the front yard, All of these were taken within 100 yards of my home. As a matter of fact, there’s my white car parked in the driveway. I think the image is clear enough for you to even see what the make is, and maybe even the specific model. And best of all, there’s my dog to the right.

I’m still very happy shooting with the Sony A7r—. All those other numbers after the name are too much for me. Also, still with the basic lens, sometimes considered a kit lens, the 28-60mm. I think that lens was made for this camera. It’s just a flawless combination and I love that it’s small and weather sealed. Blowing dust is more of an issue here more than rain….generally. Although lately we’ve been getting drenched. Hoping for a great ski season with all the abundant moisture.

Rating: 5 out of 3.

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Outstanding Photography

Cloud Parade #3648!

monochrome dramatic clouds in Santa Fe, NM
Road disappears into the horizon, photography.
Huge billowing clouds, photography, Santa Fe, NM.
Light and dark cloud photo Santa Fe NM
Ominous clouds Santa Fe New Mexico

Monsoon Season is supposed to be finished, but somehow they haven’t gotten that message. We’re delighted. The rain is always welcome here and so are these theatrical cloud formations. I’ve mentioned in previous posts that motorists will literally pull off to the side of the road to watch the show. I should know!

Rating: 5 out of 3.
  1. Tim Harlow Avatar
    Tim Harlow

    Spectacular photos!

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    1. Santa Fe and Me Avatar
      Santa Fe and Me

      Thanks Tim.

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      1. Tim Harlow Avatar
        Tim Harlow

        You are welcome. I so enjoy your work. New Mexico is a wonderful place.

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  2. Robin King Avatar
    Robin King

    Oh, 👏👏👏👏👏

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    1. Santa Fe and Me Avatar
      Santa Fe and Me

      Yup., that’s the Santa Fe clouds for you. We’re at just the right altitude or something. Or maybe it’s the right attitude!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  3. Robin King Avatar
    Robin King

    And, YAY! My comment went thru! “Anonymous” no more! Your photography is wonderful – happy to be following. 🤗

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  4. Santa Fe and Me Avatar
    Santa Fe and Me

    Thanks so much for that. Maybe you can tell that I have a total ball doing this!

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Black and White Photography.
Santa Fe clouds. Monsoons.

Cloud Chatter

What else can I say? They just keep putting on a show. I’m sure they’re very proud of themselves. Clouds are like that. They want us to look at them and be in awe. Come to think of it, being in “awe” is a pretty good state of mind to visit from time to time…after you’ve paid the bills that is. The photo below doesn’t exactly feature clouds, but I liked the contrast between the two subjects.

Rating: 4 out of 3.

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3 responses to “Cloud Chatter”

  1. Mike Ross Avatar
    Mike Ross

    Ansel Adams would be proud! You’ve got me staring at clouds all the time now but until recently its been too hot to go shoot them at sunset. 👍

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Santa Fe and Me Avatar
      Santa Fe and Me

      Thanks Mike. The Monsoon Season just won’t quit. But we did need the water.

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  2. Tim Harlow Avatar
    Tim Harlow

    More beautiful photos! Thanks.

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Best in Black and White Photography

One Cloud Only. Comments?

This is one picture of a cloud posted yesterday. Only this time it is much higher resolution. My camera, shooting in uncompressed RAW, can capture amazing gradations of tone in the sky and clouds. Then I compress that image for the web and everything is lost. Instead, I thought I’d try posting just one image of higher resolution and see what happens.

You can click on this image to get the full size. If anyone notices any improvement, I’d sure like to hear about it. I think it looks better and all that banding in the previous Gallery photos from 8/5/22 is much improved.

It’s likely that these images are compressed twice: once by me and another time by the WordPress protocol (probably).

Rating: 5 out of 3.

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5 responses to “One Cloud Only. Comments?”

  1. stuartshafran Avatar
    stuartshafran

    To be honest, there isn’t a lot of difference when viewing these pictures on my iPad screen, unless I zoom right in. Maybe I might spot a slight difference on my higher resolution computer monitor, but does it really matter? In my opinion it’s the overall feel of the picture that counts, the composition, the emotional feel of the image, not the technical excellence. I’ve pretty much accepted that saving images for viewing on web will involve lots of compression and I prefer seeing images in print anyway. Your images are already fantastic, so I wouldn’t worry too much about it.

    Liked by 1 person

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    1. Santa Fe and Me Avatar
      Santa Fe and Me

      Yeah, you’re probably spot on. My screen does show the banding of the slight tone that I use. Getting rid of that would probably reduce the artifact, but then the image wouldn’t feel like “here”.

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  2. Mike Ross Avatar
    Mike Ross

    First of all your image is bigger than my monitor so Firefox scales it down to 52%. Yes its sharper and easier to see the detail and the 2.21MB file loaded instantly. That being said most people won’t notice, think about all those who read these blogs on a phone or, iPad. ☝

    Ming Thein used to over-sharpen a lot of his images and it was very obvious, surprising for a professional photographer of his caliber. But he was obsessed with quality, think Robert Pirsig in Lila. If you didn’t read it he drives himself insane.

    By using thumbnails and a gallery people will click to see a larger version and it loads quickly, just figure out the maximum size that’s practical and save as a high resolution if not the highest.

    “The world comes to us in an endless stream of puzzle pieces that we would like to think all fit together somehow, but that in fact never do.” Robert Pirsig, Lila: An Inquiry into Morals

    🤡🙈🐴🍸🎅

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  3. Alessandra Chaves Avatar
    Alessandra Chaves

    I agree with Stewart’s comment.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  4. Tim Harlow Avatar
    Tim Harlow

    Absolutely incredible! The monochrome tones are so rich and beautiful. I really love the black and white. It allows us to focus more on the textures and tones. Always enjoy your work!

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Cloudscapes

The ever changing cloud formations up here continue to hold my undivided attention. I can’t seem to get enough of it and I can’t seem to stop looking. Funny that I’m never bored by this vista. They form, then morph, then merge, then dissipate, like “thoughts”. I find that I can’t leave home without the camera around my neck….just in case one of them calls to me!

Rating: 1 out of 3.

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4 responses to “Cloudscapes”

  1. Timothy Price Avatar
    Timothy Price

    Beautiful clouds.

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    1. Santa Fe and Me Avatar
      Santa Fe and Me

      Thanks Timothy.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  2. Mike Ross Avatar
    Mike Ross

    There’s really little reason to worry about file size, especially when you use thumbnails. I try to keep my images under 600KB but a lot of people upload full size color images straight from their camera, like 4000 x 6000px. Jane Laurie once told me she uses settings in Lightroom to export her images at 500KB or less but I’ve seen some of hers at well over 1MB. As for using a WEBP for faster loading its ridiculous and likely reduces quality even more.

    I think we have a lot in common sweating the small stuff, ask the clouds if anything really matters. 😎

    Fantastic compositions and images!

    Liked by 1 person

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  3. Tim Harlow Avatar
    Tim Harlow

    The clouds shapes are incredible. Thank you!!

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Monroe Gallery

Every time I head downtown, I make it a point to stop in at The Monroe Gallery of Photography. There you’ll see the originals of great photographers, both contemporary and past. I stopped in there a few days ago and asked the director if I could take some photos at a discreet distance, of course. She was so glad that I had asked and immediately said, “Sure you may.” I told her that I would be posting them on my website and she was fine with that too.

But what I didn’t say to her, because it didn’t occur to me at the time, was that in “post” it might occur to me to play “make believe” or “make pretend” and insert one or two of my photos into these magnificent gallery displays. Wishful thinking maybe. I am NOT in this Gallery by a long shot. They don’t even know who I am. This is just me having some, I hope, innocent fun. I am NOT in any gallery anywhere. So there. Full disclosure on that score. Just a little photographic prankster-ism.

The Imposters:

P.S. If there are any lawyers out there who know of any law I might be breaking, do let me know. I think I’ve given pretty blunt full disclosure.

Rating: 3 out of 3.

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4 responses to “Monroe Gallery”

  1. Timothy Price Avatar
    Timothy Price

    I’m no lawyer, but if you aren’t profiting from the photos of the photos in the gallery, and the gallery doesn’t complain, I don’t think you have to worry about anything, I’ve never been to The Monroe Gallery of Photography. I’m 50 miles south of Santa Fe and rarely visit.

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  2. Santa Fe and Me Avatar
    Santa Fe and Me

    Thanks. No, there’s no “shop” or profit involved in this website, or any other of mine. Monroe is very worthwhile next time you’re here.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  3. Tim Harlow Avatar
    Tim Harlow

    Well, your photos should and could be in a gallery. You do incredible work. I had no idea that the man, the dog or the crowd were yours. They are as good as any of the others. Cool post. Thanks!

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  4. Santa Fe and Me Avatar
    Santa Fe and Me

    Thank you. It was a lot of fun doing that.

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Clouds to Astound

Believe me, I’m not doing anything to these clouds. This is how they look. People just stop what they’re doing to gaze upward. At least I’m not the only one! It reminds me of the movie, “Independence Day”, if any of you saw that.

Shot these with the Sony A7r3. I like hearing reports from others about their experiences with the cameras and lenses they’re using. I learn a lot from that. What it comes down to, of course, is a personal choice. How does the camera feel in the hand? Does it fit? Does its position of controls and options work with the way my brain works? That’s what it comes down to because here’s what I’ve discovered: all of the modern cameras and lenses are excellent. I should know. I have a quite an assortment in my Photo Stable. We have to split hairs to make an argument for one brand or model over the other. At least that’s what I’ve discovered.

Having said all that: this Sony A7r3 (I hate the naming conventions) is an absolute winner for me. We’re just a good fit. It’s beautifully constructed (that matters to me) and it’s light weight and easy to carry around all day with the small FE f4, 28-60mm lens on it. And the whole kit is weather and dust sealed. The “dust” part matters a lot out here. Anyway….we’re a good match. And may we live happily ever after.

Rating: 3 out of 3.

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9 responses to “Clouds to Astound”

  1. mic Avatar
    mic

    👌👌👌📷looks great

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  2. Mike Ross Avatar
    Mike Ross

    Fantastic, I’ve been trying to shoot clouds like that for a long time with little success. As for dust my RX-100 now has dust on the sensor, probably from using a blower on the lens which is not recommended for compact cameras. I read a post suggesting I use a vacuum while zooming the lens in and out but its sounds crazy. This happened with my last one too but it took about 7 years. So I’ll use my A6000 and 35mm prime which I love but often leave at home because I tell myself I’m just going out for a quick ride.

    Liked by 1 person

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  3. Santa Fe and Me Avatar
    Santa Fe and Me

    Thanks. Here’s a good one…when I’m going out for a ride on the Honda, I take the Canon SX740! Fits under the motorcycle jacket just fine.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  4. Greta DH Avatar
    Greta DH

    Your clouds are just breathtaking! What a match!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  5. Alessandra Chaves Avatar
    Alessandra Chaves

    Very cool, dramatic skies. I’m glad Sony works for you. I never tried but my friends who have it only have good things to say about it.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  6. kaylocksellers Avatar
    kaylocksellers

    Beautiful imagery!

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  7. Timothy Price Avatar
    Timothy Price

    Wonderful clouds. It’s nice to see another sky photographer from New Mexico.

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  8. Santa Fe and Me Avatar
    Santa Fe and Me

    That’s because the subject matter is irresistable!

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  9. Tim Harlow Avatar
    Tim Harlow

    The monsoon season is definitely upon you. More astounding photos. You are amazing. Thanks so much.

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Award Winning Photographs

‘Tis the Season For Sky

Skies like this leave me in awe and feeling very small.

On a technical note, adding a tint to some of these, does NOT translate well into the compressed version needed for the web. It bugs me, but as I have said before, a) I think I’ll live, and b) Life goes on!

Rating: 3 out of 3.

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2 responses to “‘Tis the Season For Sky”

  1. mic Avatar
    mic

    👌👌👌📷

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  2. Tim Harlow Avatar
    Tim Harlow

    Absolutely beautiful! 🙂

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Not Quite Ansel Adams

Is This Cheating?

The “big” moral question of the day is: Is it OK to feature color images on what is mainly a black-and-white photography blog? I just have this sneaking feeling that I’m cheating in some way.

But here’s why I can’t resist. Normally we’re quite dry here, but as I mentioned in yesterday’s posting, we’re in Monsoon Season. That means that the plants jump to life, including what’s growing in my garden. I just stand there and look at the patterns in the leaves. I love it. It’s mystical to me. It’s miraculous and I drink it in. So, OF COURSE when I come back down to Earth, I just have to take a picture of it. And the colors are intoxicating. Maybe we’re not used to it. The “palette” here is usually rather soft and pastel-like. So, these plants with their saturated greens and yellows just beg me to have their picture taken. Plants are like that. They can be quite vain you know.

Rating: 0 out of 3.

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One response to “Is This Cheating?”

  1. Tim Harlow Avatar
    Tim Harlow

    Love your posts and your photos. It is absolutely not cheating. It’s your blog, you bring what you want. I always love your monochromes, but the colors are gorgeous. Thank you!

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Art in Santa Fe New Mexico

Can’t Get Enough of…

Well, I hope I’m not boring everyone who visits “santafeandme” these days. But we are in our Monsoon Season and that means epically amazing cloud formations and lots of storms.

When I’m driving, I have to remind myself to: “Keep your eyes on the road.” It’s really difficult and more often than not, I have to pull over and “click”. Some of these formations look positively nuclear or Biblical, or both! Others look like highways in the sky. I can’t stop myself, it’s worse than chocolate. So “clouds” may be the theme on this blog for a couple more weeks…

…Oh, that’s not true either. Clouds and Sky are just a major facet of the scenery in New Mexico’s high country all year.

Rating: 0 out of 3.

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One response to “Can’t Get Enough of…”

  1. Tim Harlow Avatar
    Tim Harlow

    Oh my gosh! These are just incredible! You have so much talent. Thanks for posting. 🙂

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Award Winning Black and White Photography