Photo Notes #1
Like most people, I take at least one photograph a day. Those fancy smartphones we carry around make photography incredibly easy. So easy, in fact, there are now billions of them floating around in the cloud or published on various digital platforms.
At the last count, as of, today, I have 26 562 photos synced with my iCloud account. I thought I had more than enough paper photographs packed in a box in a cupboard. I can't seem to stop.
Aside from using my phone, I use other cameras as well. I have a small digital Ricoh - model name GRiii - which is smaller than my phone yet can take a mighty photograph. I love it. I can hold it in the palm of my hand and use it when my film cameras feel a little too intrusive.
I took my Ricoh with me on a family trip to Palm Springs last week, along with one of my film cameras, a Mamiya 7ii, which must be nearly 20 years old by now.
Using my Ricoh in the bright desert sun was almost impossible. With no viewfinder, I had to compose my pictures by relying on what I could dimly make out on the screen, which simply isn't bright enough in high sun. As I use all my cameras on manual setting, I had to squint and guess at an appropriate exposure and cross my fingers in hope. If anything a little under-exposure is better in digital photography rather than over. Most of the time my efforts worked out.
Every evening we would walk from our hotel to the main street of shops and restaurants which was a good 35-minute walk, made considerably longer by me lagging behind taking pictures of this and that. It makes me super popular with my family.
Here are some of those photographs. These are examples of pictures I often take of random scenes and odd moments. Times, when low evening sun creates long, deep shadows or a storm threatens over the mountains. Just as I make written notes I make photo notes. Here's the first post in a continuing series. Enjoy.
All photos by Tanya Clarke 2024
