Frames.

Frames. Every time I head out for a photo walkabout, I’m hopeful to catch one or two frames that really stand apart. Sometimes it’s the light, sometimes it’s the bustle of the city, and sometimes, like here, it all kinda comes together.

The lines of the building, the lone figure with an umbrella cutting across the scene all just worked. I’d just left my favorite too-hip-for-me Parisian coffee shop and was amped up on espresso after a nice post work nap. So I thankfully had the energy to stand in the rain and wait for the moment to develop.

Sometimes all it takes is one frame to remember why you keep walking.

Sony RX10iv

A Journey to the Isle of Skye

We had the pleasure of visiting Scotland back in May and naturally fell right in love. From the warm hospitality of the people to the dramatic landscapes that seem straight out of a storybook, every turn felt like discovering a new treasure. While Edinburgh’s cobbled streets and the Highlands’ sweeping views left us in awe, it was the rugged beauty of the Isle of Skye that truly captured our hearts.

The island feels like another world at times, where jagged peaks meet rolling green hills, waterfalls tumble into the sea, and every bend in the road reveals a scene more breathtaking than the last. It’s the kind of place that makes you want to slow down, wander off the beaten path, and simply let the landscape work its quiet magic.

Neist Point, Isle of Skye | Fuji X-T3

Scenes on the drive north toward Inverness | Fuji X-T3

Early morning hike up Old Man Storr yielded a great view! | Fuji X-T3

Sheep and views | Fuji X-T3

Fuji X-T3

Castles Abound | Fuji X-T3

Goodnight Scotland | DJI Mini Pro 3

La Défense

I’ve been visiting Paris now for over 20 years and somehow haven’t made it west of the Seine River to explore the La Défense area. Well, the other day I finally decided to break that streak.

La Défense is a bit out of character with the rest of what folks view as typical Paris, a much more modern setting with skyscrapers, mall and corporate offices. But the really fun thing is the architecture of not only the Grand Arch itself but the somewhat brutalist architecture that sits just off the banks of the river. As you walk west, toward the Grand Arch the architecture changes from basically an homage to Blade Runner to proper 21st century buildings.

As usual, I had my trusty Sony RX10iv along for the job. It’s sort of the anti-camera for me with its all in one zoom lens, large body and jack of all trades features. But you know what? It gets the job done and allows some great flexibility in focal length. So alas, here’s a few favorites from the other day.

Hello Moon & Flug

Captured this SkyWest E175 descending into KDEN last night. We were in the backyard enjoying a cold beer on my first day off after a long 6 day trip when I noticed arrivals were lining up with the moon.

So I ran inside, grabbed the Fuji X-T3 and slapped on the XF100-400mm lens with a 1.4x teleconverter. And bam! Basically 520mm of zoom going on here.

Turned out pretty ok for a jet lagged handheld shot after a cold beer!

SkyWest E175 descends into Denver International Airport

Madeira

We had just arrived on the Portuguese island of Madeira the evening before I took this shot and despite little sleep, the weather was looking great for a potential sunrise shot. As I do often when we travel, I laid out my gear and clothes for a silent escape in the morning so my wife could sleep a little longer. I raced along the coastal road through the numerous tunnels hoping I'd get to the beach in time as navigating Madeira's roads can be a bit of a challenge.

Having made it to the beach just in time I managed to skip and hop over the many large boulders with reasonable sleep deprived grace to frame my shot. I quickly set up the tripod but wasn't happy with my location. Then moved farther down toward the water and lowered my perspective as well. Once satisfied, I added my 10 stop ND Lee Filter and tried a few shots to see how the scene was coming together. After a few more adjustments I got this image and was glad for the peaceful morning watching the sunrise in this far away place.