I am stuggling with where to start. My monkey-mind is in control. There are a seemingly endless number of topics I would like to write about, but I am commited to keeping these blog posts short and to the point. Do I write very short and concise pieces on each of the topics I am thinking about, or do I write more posts - a post on each subject?

The challenge(s) with the first option:

• The topic may require more that a short paragraph of two.
• I am prone to use an overly verbose and elegent writing style, were something more Hemmingway like would probably better serve the purpose.

The challenge(s) with the second option:

• All these topics are fresh in my mind and my monkey-mind is in control and if I delay in writing about these ideas and topics I may lose track of them, or lose interest in them.
• More often than not, an idea or inspiration seem so interesting and exciting at first, but over time the interest and passion fade.

There seems to be only one way forward, I will list out the ideas and subjects that are bouncing around in my head. Then, over the next few days we will see if I end up writing a post on one or more of them.

I have been working on cleaning up my online life. I have deleted my social media accounts. I have unsubscribed from as many mailing lists as I can. I have been working on cleaning up my browser bookmarks, cleaning out saved and archived emails, deleting unused apps and turning off notifications. The changes have helped with reducing the time I spend checking email, web surfing, etc.

Of the relatively few sites I visit regularly and continue to enjoy and find inspiration from is https://www.laroquephoto.com/, the website of a Canadian photographer, Patrick LaRoque. I particularly like his blog and additionally I have taken ques from his website in my site redesign. He has inspired me to start taking photographs in and around our home - something I have not done in a long while. His post on the 35th anniversary of the internet, https://www.laroquephoto.com/blog/2024-03-21/these-traces-101, brought back memories, set off alarm bells and gave me pause about what this blog is really about.

In taking the photographs around the house mentioned above I realized I am seeing in black and white again. I am not sure how to describe what that means. In shooting in black and white you look for shape, depth and contrast without color, while it color your first priority is often seeing colors and how the relate to one and another. It is very difficult to move back and forth between black and white and color, or at least it is for me.

I am also focusing on the concept of SOOC (straight out of the camera) work. It is an outgrowth of the Fujifilm feature that allows you to customize the look of the jpeg files the camera puts out via "recipes." There are hundreds of recipes on the internet, and you can create your own. It has highlighted how much I have grown to depend on image stabilization, post-processing, etc. You have to pay more attention to every aspect of shooting - focus, exposure, composition, correct camera posture, etc. if the image will be worthwhile straight out of the camera.

Speaking of black and white photography, I am on something of a Daido Moriyama jag. In fact, I am digging in deep on Japanese photography in the 1960s and 70s. I have always known of and been a fan of Eikoh Hosoe, who Moriyama worked for, but I am looking forward to expanding my understanding of an interesting and highly influential period and genre of photography.

It is worth noting, at this point, that the act of putting these thoughts, ideas and insights into words has helped quiet my monkey mind.

A couple of final notes:

• Based on Patrick Laroque’s example, I will putting up a blogroll on this site soon. Regretably, mine will include links to YouTube channels. I have found that some of the best content being created right now is no longer something we can read, but something we have to watch and listen to. There is a part of me that finds that disturbing and regretable, but the content I have found is excellent. It may be I am just getting old.
• Speaking of which, my seventieth birthday is coming up and I am spending the first two weeks of April in New York City in celebration of that milestone. Not only that, I will be attending a workshop with the photographer Ralph Gibson and the YouTube creator/photographer Ted Forbes - very exciting!

Damn, too long again!