Camera Girl is an excellent wife. She understands the nuances and challenges of being married to a profoundly disorganized man. And what she has done is become my enabler. She knows how lazy and easily distracted I can be so she goes out of her way to find things in the real world that can help me in my stated goals.
For instance, I’ve been complaining about needing a photography trip to get a bunch of new pictures. So, she took it upon herself to research day trips to photogenic locations. Car shows, museums, stuff like that. Well, she asked me if I want to go to a botanical garden on Friday. Apparently, the weather is going to cooperate and she was able to get discount passes from one of her library friends (she loves discounts passionately).
“Perfect!” I said. And so tomorrow morning I will assemble my gear and she will act as my native bearer or sherpa guide. With her carrying all the weight, my inner vision will be free to unlock the mystical dimensions of the secrets of nature. Like a modern-day Leonardo da Vinci (only without all the gayness) I will frame the photographs that will capture truth, beauty and small insects everywhere I go.
Like Frank Buck and Ali “bringing ‘em back alive” or Sir Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay conquering Everest, we shall conquer new frontiers of arboreal greatness together. I with my Sony 90mm f\2.8 macro lens and A7IV camera and Camera Girl with her 83-pound backpack with forehead strap to take some of the weight off of her shoulders. To some this may sound excessive. On the contrary, I’m leaving behind the laptop, larger tripod and the flash gear. Everything I packed is critical; the portable generator, my yoga mat and the collapsible hammock for my 1:30 pm siesta. After all we’re not barbarians, are we? And she knows that the roll of a good producer is to, “keep the talent happy.” After all, without my perfect composure and comfort the whole thing will be for naught. Remember, art is the hardest thing in the world. We must be perfectly in tune with the astral plane or it will collapse like a deck of cards or some other analogy.
As the kids would say, “I’m stoked.” And I predict the most amazing results from this expedition. I do intend to bring along some other lenses. The 10mm Voigtlander should be useful for capturing some of the vertical shots of the trees and I’m considering bringing the Sony 200-600mm zoom for any shots of birds up in the higher branches. And I guess I’ll bring the Sony 35mm f\1.4 for some landscape shots. I’m not sure if I’ll bring the new 135mm f\1.8. It’s kind of an in between lens. Not really long enough for wildlife but too tight for landscape. But it has great bokeh for backgrounds so I probably will bring it. Ah, decisions, decisions.
So, I’ll be away for a chunk of the day. The site will be quiet but I’ll be home in time to catch up with everything. “Ali! Where is my elephant gun you lazy heathen!”
How far is Buffalo, NY from you? They have an EXCELLENT Naval museum with several restored WWII vessels including a submarine. Tip, bring flash and WIDE angle lenses.
Also, what about a really old cemetery?
Buffalo is about 400 miles or about 7 hours away by car. We do have very, very old cemeteries around here. That’s a good idea. There are some naval exhibits along the seacoast.
Cemeteries are one of my favorite venues.
Especially the old ones.