Bob Israel
Well-Known Member
This has been an interesting year for me. My photography took a turn from landscape to astrophotography, photojournalism, film, old cameras and more. As a result of all my dabbling, I found myself spending less time on social media and in particular, here on Focal World . . . my bad! So, my entry here is less about my best and more about my favorites from the various experiences. I hope you enjoy the show!
#1 - I purchased my first telescope, the Celestron Origin. It's a smart telescope with fast optics and pretty easy to use. The hard part was learning how to process the resulting stacked image in Pixinsight. I feel like I have my basic workflow down but there's still so much to learn. Unfortunately, this past month there have been only two clear nights! This image is the Elephant Trunk Nebula.
#2 - I was able to make my annual trek down to Red Wing, MN and my favorite spot to photography eagles.
#3 - I also went to Hudson, WI where geese, swans and ducks gather in an open water spot. Residents feed the birds and have been doing this for decades. Apparently this one had something to say about having its picture taken.
#4 - This year, I returned to film photography. It's been 35 years since I last shot film and while I never did it back in the 80s, I am now developing my own B&W and color film. It has also developed a new hobby for me . . . perusing antique stores for old cameras that can be brought back to life. This image was taken with the Kodak Retina IIc. I love this little foldout camera with a super sharp Schneider lens.
#5 - Continuing with my film journey, I had a Leica M4-P for a time. Never should have sold it as it's a wonderful camera. While it has no meter (nor does the Retina above), I used a separate meter that mounts on the cold shoe of the camera. Perhaps we need a film photography forum on Focal World (hint, hint).
#6 - With all my time being a film-head and a gear-head, I spent less time with my drone than usual. However, just recently grabbed this shot during a rare sunset this December. This is a 5-shot panorama stitched in Lightroom
#7 - My wife and I drove to Toronto to visit with Canadian friends who we met on a bike trip several years ago. This gathering was to introduce an even larger group to one another in anticipation of a bike and boat trip in Croatia (see below). On the way home, we stopped in Milwaukee to visit my daughter. We spend a short while at the Milwaukee Art Museum and the beautiful Calatrava architecture.
8 - This is the house where my dad was born in the small town of Kirchberg, Germany. He and his family left this home in 1938 during the Nazi regime. We spent a couple of wonderful days touring the town and meeting with a couple I last saw in 2011. A wonderful, generous couple, they treated us so warmly after so many years. Lifelong memories.
#9 - After leaving Germany, we went to Croatia where we lived on a 30 passenger boat and biked our way on the Dalmatian Islands.
#10 - Last but not least, I spent the beginning of 2024 (and fall of 2023) as the official photographer for the Dean Phillips for President campaign. While his campaign never really took off, it was a most remarkable experience to be part of it. I tried channeling my inner Pete Souza.
#1 - I purchased my first telescope, the Celestron Origin. It's a smart telescope with fast optics and pretty easy to use. The hard part was learning how to process the resulting stacked image in Pixinsight. I feel like I have my basic workflow down but there's still so much to learn. Unfortunately, this past month there have been only two clear nights! This image is the Elephant Trunk Nebula.
#2 - I was able to make my annual trek down to Red Wing, MN and my favorite spot to photography eagles.
#3 - I also went to Hudson, WI where geese, swans and ducks gather in an open water spot. Residents feed the birds and have been doing this for decades. Apparently this one had something to say about having its picture taken.
#4 - This year, I returned to film photography. It's been 35 years since I last shot film and while I never did it back in the 80s, I am now developing my own B&W and color film. It has also developed a new hobby for me . . . perusing antique stores for old cameras that can be brought back to life. This image was taken with the Kodak Retina IIc. I love this little foldout camera with a super sharp Schneider lens.
#5 - Continuing with my film journey, I had a Leica M4-P for a time. Never should have sold it as it's a wonderful camera. While it has no meter (nor does the Retina above), I used a separate meter that mounts on the cold shoe of the camera. Perhaps we need a film photography forum on Focal World (hint, hint).
#6 - With all my time being a film-head and a gear-head, I spent less time with my drone than usual. However, just recently grabbed this shot during a rare sunset this December. This is a 5-shot panorama stitched in Lightroom
#7 - My wife and I drove to Toronto to visit with Canadian friends who we met on a bike trip several years ago. This gathering was to introduce an even larger group to one another in anticipation of a bike and boat trip in Croatia (see below). On the way home, we stopped in Milwaukee to visit my daughter. We spend a short while at the Milwaukee Art Museum and the beautiful Calatrava architecture.
8 - This is the house where my dad was born in the small town of Kirchberg, Germany. He and his family left this home in 1938 during the Nazi regime. We spent a couple of wonderful days touring the town and meeting with a couple I last saw in 2011. A wonderful, generous couple, they treated us so warmly after so many years. Lifelong memories.
#9 - After leaving Germany, we went to Croatia where we lived on a 30 passenger boat and biked our way on the Dalmatian Islands.
#10 - Last but not least, I spent the beginning of 2024 (and fall of 2023) as the official photographer for the Dean Phillips for President campaign. While his campaign never really took off, it was a most remarkable experience to be part of it. I tried channeling my inner Pete Souza.
