Kolor me Krazy

Sometimes even an old dyed-in-the-wool black & white film shooter has to accept the fact that we still live in a world of color. Most of what I've been shooting in film these past few years has been B & W. Sure, the Kodachrome project has brought me back to reality. Although that will all be nearly over with by this time next year, as the film has now gone out of production forever, and the last remaining lab to develop this film will halt the service in December of 2010.

Lately, I've been experimenting with a stash of free color film that Kodak sent me last month. Free film is always a great excuse to pull out the half-exposed roll of Tri-X sitting in my Leica M3. And this color film especially, Kodak Portra 160VC, is perfect for this time of year. The autumn leaves have arrived. Here's a few pictures I took yesterday at Brown Deer Park. The afternoon was overcast, even with some light rain showers during my shoot. But these are the conditions that can be a delight to the photographer, bringing nice saturation to an already beautiful time of year.

Color Copies

Another Kodachrome, shot with the Leica M3 and Elmar 50/2.8.

That 50 year-old Leica M3

My 50 year-old Leica M3 and Elmar 50/2.8 loaded with Kodachrome.

Ecstasy

I don't often think of Zoomer as an old dog, but he is. He will be 10 years old on January 18, 2010, and the average life expectancy of a greyhound is 9-14 years. He still seems like my baby though, and in many ways he is. But the two or three years have snuck up on us both rather quickly. And as I fell into my 50s, Zoomer slipped into old age. And now, with his body dealing with the added stress that the amputation and the consequences it brings, it's clear that he is slowing down.

Just a little over a year ago, Zoomer could run after crazed squirrels with wild-eyed abandon. He still wants to, but now it is my job to keep him safe, and not to let himself go too far in his excitement. His stamina has been shortened to not much more than a walk around the yard. But their is no question, he still loves life and the simple pleasures of being a dog. Pleasures like chewing on a favorite stick. Pure canine ecstasy.

A little more behind the ear, please!

Sometimes I just sit outside in our front yard with Zoomer. I bring out my lawn chair and his blanket, and we sit and "talk". I often talk to Zoomer about how our Creator answered our prayers and gave him more days. Zoomer has had a rough year, adjusting to getting around with one missing leg, and dealing with the extra pains and strains that the extra stress puts on his body. Add to all this, the difficulty of just getting old. But through all that, he still seems to love life, and greets me with a full-blown tag-wagging every time I walk through the door.

He still loves to bark at strange dogs or people who appear to be intruders in the confines of his world, as they do nothing more than casually walk by our house on their innocent evening stroll. Little do they know, he has no real desire to hurt anyone. All he wants to do is meet them, to be able to sniff them, get a little scratch behind the ear, and say, "There, now you are my friend." It seems that all through his life, all Zoomer has wanted to do is to meet people and make friends. And through this, he has helped me do the same through the people we have met together.

He has truly been this man's best friend.

Of Sounds and Time

Sand Dunes

This past Sunday during the Labor Day weekend, my wife and I took a drive up to Kohler-Andre State Park, just south of Sheboygan, WI. Here's a couple pictures from our walk along the sand dunes that run along the Lake Michigan shoreline.

More of the Dells