Photography

My relationship with photography is driven by two main passions: an appreciation for the natural world, where I intentionally keep man-made objects out of the frame; and an ongoing curiosity about extreme photography, capturing light and details beyond normal human vision. Whether I am tracking the rich, warm transition of fall foliage or exploring hidden wavelengths, my goal is always to showcase the organic beauty of creation.

My Journey and Equipment Evolution

Early Film Days: College and the Darkroom

My path began in college when I borrowed a friend's 35mm SLR to complete a photography course. That experience gave me a fundamental understanding of exposure, light control, and composition, along with the invaluable experience of developing my own prints in a darkroom.

Soon after, I purchased my first camera, an Olympus 35mm SLR. Unfortunately, that camera suffered from a relentless electrical short that drained batteries almost immediately, leaving me frustrated and sidelined far too often.

The Transition to Digital: From Disappointment to CHDK

When digital cameras first hit the consumer market, I made the jump, though early models were generally disappointing in image quality and responsiveness.

The real turn for the better came when I acquired a Canon PowerShot S3 IS. By loading the Canon Hack Development Kit (CHDK) onto a memory card, I unlocked advanced features and custom scripts that permitted high-speed trigger capabilities, opening up the exciting realm of lightning capture. I still keep that S3 IS today as a reminder of how creative software workarounds can breathe new life into modest hardware.

The Canon T1i: Full Spectrum, Astrophotography, and Ingenuity

I purchased a used Canon Rebel T1i and sent it directly to a friend for a full-spectrum modification. He provided an Astronomik clip-in filter to restore visible light sensitivity, allowing the body to pull dual duty as both a standard camera and a dedicated astronomical camera.

From 2011 through 2020, that T1i served as my primary astrophotography workhorse; during the second half of its decade-long run, I even built a custom refrigerated enclosure for it to control sensor noise during long astronomical exposures.

Today, the T1i has its share of war scars—its main back LCD screen is completely dead. However, the internal optical displays still work, and because I rarely need to reconfigure its menus, it remains a fully capable, dedicated tool for specialized light capture.

Current Setup: Dedicated Tools for Dedicated Tasks

I prefer finding good value in used gear rather than paying full retail, which guided my acquisition of an unmodified Canon T6s to take over standard daytime duties.

• Terrestrial Photography: My main body for natural landscapes is the unmodified Canon T6s. My primary optics are versatile zoom lenses, including the EF 70-300mm 1:4-5.6 IS USM and the 28-135mm ultrasonic; while prime lenses are appealing, I have never been able to justify their cost relative to the practical flexibility of quality zooms. I keep a Manfrotto polarizing filter and a Tiffen Color Enhancing filter installed at all times to control reflections and boost natural organic warmth.
• Infrared and Ultraviolet: The full-spectrum T1i continues to serve for specialized IR and prospective UV imaging using clip-in filters.
• Astronomy: Astronomical imaging has transitioned completely to a dedicated ZWO ASI2600MC Pro cooled astro camera, mounted directly to my telescopes.

Frontiers: Micro, Macro, and Beyond

My photographic interests continue to expand into both larger optical setups and microscopic details:

• Infrared Photography: Transforming lush greens and atmospheric scattering into glowing white foliage and deep, striking skies remains one of my favorite creative outlets.
• Ultraviolet Photography: I am preparing to venture further into UV photography, using full spectrum capabilities to uncover subtle surface patterns on plants and flowers.
• Microscope and Macro Photography: I am actively developing a specialized micro-imaging setup. The foundation of this rig is an antique Spencer Buffalo microscope fitted with completely refreshed optics from Surplus Shed. My initial image capture experiments rely on modified Microsoft webcams originally adapted for planetary imaging; however, I anticipate my dedicated astro cameras will eventually find a dual purpose on the microscope stage.

• Telescopic Astrophotography: For deep space views of faint nebulae, star clusters, and distant galaxies, visit the dedicated Astronomy section.

Gallery

To browse categorized visual samples of my terrestrial landscape work, seasonal foliage captures, and infrared projects, please visit my primary Photo Gallery.