Exploring Cybersecurity, Photography, Technology, and Nature with Khürt Williams
He was in a bind. His sister-in-law wanted portraits of her son. He didn’t have a Fuji lens with a focal length for social distancing. But he had a FotodioX lens adapter and a 135mm legacy M42 prime lens.
I was in a bind. My sister-in-law wanted portraits of my nephews, but I didn't have a Fuji lens with the focal length to provide social distancing. A FotodioX M42-FX adapter and a Vivitar MC Telephoto 135mm f/2.8 legacy M42 lens solved the problem.
I don't have many words today. I woke up late. The sun was shining, and I knew I wanted to have beer and bratwurst for lunch. After lunch, Bhavna wanted to enjoy the outdoors given how much rain we had this week but we also knew that the state had relaxed some of the restrictions on public parks and expected that every idiot would be out and we didn't trust that people would remember to physical distance and wear a mask. We choose to walk around the loop of the Skyview Preserve in Hopewell. I had been here by myself a few weeks ago and I knew that most people don't use these trails.
Locally something beautiful happened. Hopewell Valley mayors reached out to nonprofit organizations like FoHVOS, D&R Greenway, NJCF, and the Lawrence Hopewell Trail and together they collaborated to keep trails open where feasible. Speaking in a single voice, they figuratively said, “We are here for you. Our public lands are for the public to enjoy if you can do so responsibly.” They provided a thoughtful approach to put community welfare first. Not surprisingly Princeton and Lawrence municipal leaders announced they would stay open as well.MercerMe Community Contributor Lisa Wolff
The trail was soggy, but Bhavna must have enjoyed being out because she chuffed through it. We found a frog sunning on the side of the pool of water where I had observed tadpoles week earlier. We spooked the frog and it jumped into the large pool of water but not before I was able to get very close with my iPhone 11 Pro.
I observed more variety of flowers this time, including what I think is wood anemone and jack in the pulpit. Bhavna wants to return when the trail is drier.
I captured fewer images on this hike. I used the Fotodiox M42-FX adapter and my with my Fujifilm X-T2 and used the Velvia Film Simulation. To keep things simpler, I captured all the photos at f/8 and with the camera in aperture priority mode. With this lens on my Fujifilm X-T2, I have to focus manually, which is easier with focus peaking, but focusing is slower than autofocus.
What do you think of my efforts?
While driving home after breakfast at Aunt Chubby’s I asked Bhavna to take a walk with me along the Aunt Molly Trail of St. Michael’s Nature Preserve. I had mentioned to her that a few weeks prior, I had walked the Aunt Molly Trail after breakfast by myself at Aunt Chubby’s. After we started walking Bhavna mentioned that after our adult children returned to university for the winter semester that the two of us could develop a weekend routine of breakfast and after breakfast walk.
It was cold and windy and the trail was muddy and swampy
, not at all like the frozen trail I walked a few weeks ago. We walked along on the grass to the side of the trail. Bhavna was concerned about walking out alone in the woods for fear she would be murdered and her body disposed of in a wood chipper. She asked about my concern when out by myself and I mentioned that I was far more worried about falling and hurting myself. We both agreed that our iPhones provided some comfort because we could be tracked via GPS. I guess we've been watching too many movies.
I noticed that the Asahi Optical Co. SMC Takumar 55mm f/2 has a tendency to sun flare but I liked the way it looked.
My wife is attentive. She had noticed that I had been looking at camera bags on my iPad Pro and wanted to know more. I told her that I wanted a camera bag to hold my Fujifilm X-T2 and a couple of lenses along with my diabetes kit, a small tripod, and some snacks but that I was having trouble making a decision. Some of the leather “Indian Jones” style satchels are expensive and I didn’t feel that I could justify the expense. But she reminded me that I was the type of person to buy quality items and use them for a very long time.
I also like classic canvas and leather look of the Fujifilm/Domke F-803 Camera Bag. But I don’t like the padded velcro dividers inserts that come with many camera bags. I would prefer to toss my lenses and camera body into the bag, using lens wraps and pouches to protect the lenses from damage in the bag. But the bottom of the bag may not be padded and I could damage my body so I would at least like some padding on the bottom of the bag. Argh! Choices!
We walked and talked further than when I was out on my first walk but eventually, the trail was too muddy, and we feeling cold so we turned around and walked back to the car. I'm looking forward to the next one.
