Conversation with patience

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There's a particular kind of silence that settles over you when you're working with a 4x5. No motor drive, no rapid-fire burst shooting - just you, a loupe, and a ground glass image that appears upside down and backward, asking you to slow down and really see.

I made this image at Mission San Diego de Alcalá in April of 2001. What drew me here was the interplay of textures, the rough plaster wall, bleached white and almost luminous, set against the deep brown of that arched wooden door.

Velvia 50 in sheet film is unforgiving and magnificent in equal measure. It renders reds with a ferocity that almost feels exaggerated until you compare it to the actual geraniums spilling from those terracotta pots and realize the film isn't lying at all. The brick courtyard took on a warmth I hadn't fully appreciated with my eye alone. That's what Velvia does: it shows you what your brain edits out.

Large format photography is a conversation with patience. You haul the gear, compose deliberately, load the film holder in darkness, and then you wait for the light to be right.

Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala in April of 2001

Tag Name Data
Title Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala
Image Description I shot this in April of 2001. I believe the view has changed much since then. The Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá was one of my favorite locations to take photos of.
Keywords 4x5 film, FUJICHROME Velvia 50, Junipero Serra, Mission, Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala, Mission San Diego, california mission, catholic church, church, drum scan, film scan, flowers, san diego, velvia
Copyright Copyright ExpertPhoto.com All Rights Reserved
Artist ExpertPhoto.com
Make Toyo-Field
Camera Model Name Toyo-Field 45AII
Lens Model Schneider 90mm f/5.6 Super-Angulon XL
Focal Length 90.00mm
Focal Length In 35mm Format 27.00mm
Date/Time Original Sunday April 01, 2001 12:00pm
City San Diego
State California
Country United States
Location Grantville
GPS Altitude 30 meters (98.4 feet) above sea level
GPS Latitude 32.7846640816683
GPS Longitude -117.106651281678
Map Google Map Link

Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá

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Founded on July 16, 1769, by Spanish Franciscan friar Junípero Serra in an area long inhabited by the Kumeyaay people, Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá was the first mission in Alta California — the anchor of a chain that would eventually stretch 650 miles up the coast. Known as the "Mother of the Missions," it marks the origin of Christianity in the American West.

The story of this mission is one of repeated destruction and stubborn renewal. The original structure was a crude, thatch-roofed hut that stood on Presidio Hill above Old Town, six miles from the present site. Father Serra moved it to the banks of the San Diego River in 1774, seeking better water access and distance from the military presidio, which he felt was deterring the Kumeyaay people he hoped to reach.

The move proved fateful. During the night of November 4–5, 1775, several Kumeyaay tribes coordinated a resistance, surrounding the mission and setting fire to its wooden structures. Father Luis Jayme walked out to meet the attackers in an attempt to calm them and was killed, becoming California's first Christian martyr. He lies entombed beneath the chancel floor today.

Serra returned in 1776 and rebuilt. Successive churches rose on the same ground — adobe with thatched roofs, then larger structures — until Father José Bernardo Sánchez designed the church that stands today, completed in 1813. Unlike its predecessors, its roof was built from timber hauled over 60 miles from the interior mountains. A distinctive pair of buttresses was added in 1811 after the roof began to crack, flanking the espadaña facade alongside the five-bell tower.

The land had been home to the Kumeyaay for thousands of years before Serra arrived. They were sophisticated stewards of their landscape, practicing controlled burning for plant re-vegetation, farming in parts of their territory, and drawing on an extensive knowledge of native plants for food and medicine.

At its peak, the mission controlled over 50,000 acres, growing corn, wheat, barley, and grapes, and running approximately 20,000 sheep, 10,000 cattle, and 1,250 horses. That prosperity was built on a system of coerced labor that fundamentally disrupted Kumeyaay life — a history the mission itself now acknowledges as part of its story.

Mexico's secularization of the missions in the 1820s stripped them of land and authority. When President Lincoln signed a proclamation in 1862 restoring the mission to the Catholic Church, the buildings were in ruins. Restoration began in 1931, returning the complex to its 1813 appearance. It was rededicated as an active parish in 1941 and remains one today. Then, in 1976, came a rare distinction: Pope Paul VI designated the mission a minor basilica — one of only four California missions to receive that honor, alongside Mission Dolores, Mission Carmel, and Mission San Juan Capistrano.

The mission welcomes visitors of all faiths. Tours run Monday through Friday, Mass is held daily, and an archaeological excavation ongoing since 1966 continues to yield artifacts from the mission era.

Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá shot on 4×5 Velvia in 2001

Tag Name Data
Title Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala
Image Description I shot this in April of 2001. I believe the view has changed much since then. The Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcalá was one of my favorite locations to take photos of.
Keywords 4x5 film, FUJICHROME Velvia 50, Junipero Serra, Mission, Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala, Mission San Diego, bells, california mission, catholic church, church, church bells, cross, drum scan, film scan, flowers, mission bells, san diego, statue, velvia
Copyright Copyright ExpertPhoto.com All Rights Reserved
Artist ExpertPhoto.com
Make Toyo-Field
Camera Model Name Toyo-Field 45AII
Lens Model Schneider 90mm f/5.6 Super-Angulon XL
Focal Length 90.00mm
Focal Length In 35mm Format 27.00mm
ISO 50
Date/Time Original Sunday April 01, 2001 12:00pm
City San Diego
State California
Country United States
Location Grantville
GPS Altitude 30 meters (98.4 feet) above sea level
GPS Latitude 32.7844955283367
GPS Longitude -117.106789919992
Map Google Map Link

About This Photograph

I made this image on 4×5 large format sheet film — Fujichrome Velvia. Working with a view camera means composing on a ground glass that shows the scene upside down and reversed, under a dark cloth.

Velvia is a transparency film with aggressive color saturation. The pinks and reds of the geraniums, the deep violet of the irises, the near-luminous white of the church walls — that's not post-processing, that's the film doing what it was made to do. The 4×5 format captures roughly 16 times the surface area of a 35mm frame, and the detail that comes with it is extraordinary.

I've photographed this mission more than once, but this frame — the garden in full bloom, midday light wrapping the façade, the agave asserting itself in the middle distance — is the one I keep coming back to. The file is archived in Adobe RGB 1998, a wide-gamut color space that holds Velvia's range faithfully in print. Some photographs are made quickly. This one was made slowly, the way the mission itself was built.

Sources:

Wikipedia
San Diego Tourism Authority
EBSCO Research Starters
California Missions Native History
Mission San Diego de Alcalá (official site)
Legends of America
The California Frontier Project
California.com

Izu Lion San Diego Zoo Safari Park

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I took this shot in 2007 when Izu, San Diego Zoo Safari Park's lion was 3 years old. He was my favorite subject at the park. Izu died a few years ago in 2022. I was recently going through some photos and came across this shot. Rest in peace Izu.

Izu Lion San Diego Zoo Safari Park

Tag Name Data
Title Lion at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park
Image Description I visited the San Diego Zoo Safari Park many times to get a great shot of Izu, one of their male lions, sitting on top of the fake land rover they have parked in the enclosure. On this visit, armed with my big 400, I was blessed with Izu looking majestic as he was positioned perfectly on top of the land rover. This type of shot really doesn't get much better than this. Izu died in May 2022. RIP Izu.
Keywords San Diego Zoo Safari Park, animal, escondido, lion
Copyright ©ExpertPhoto.com All Rights Reserved
Artist ExpertPhoto.com
Make Canon
Camera Model Name Canon EOS DIGITAL REBEL XTi
Lens Model EF400mm f/4 DO IS USM
Focal Length 400.00mm
Shutter Speed Value 1/250 second
Aperture Value 4.50
ISO 100
Date/Time Original Tuesday October 16, 2007 12:50pm
City Escondido
State California
Country United States
Location San Diego Zoo Safari Park
GPS Altitude 130 meters (426.5 feet) above sea level
GPS Latitude 33.0966004166667
GPS Longitude -116.997551200075
Map Google Map Link

Astro Orbiter

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This piece started as a photo taken in 2011. It is now a 6-foor wide watercolor. Heavily edited, it is purely digital.

This was one of my favorite rides as a kid. I loved going to Disneyland. I remember the early 70s where each ride required a ticket, and you could park right outside the entrance.

This final piece really looks like what you see when you ride the Rocket Jets, now called Astro Orbiter at night. Just a blur of lights.

Rocket Ride or Astro Orbiter at Disneyland

Tag Name Data
Title Rocket Ride or Astro Orbiter at Disneyland
Image Description 6-foot wide watercolor of an original photo I took in 2011 of the famous ride at Disneyland.
Keywords 6x12, anaheim, anaheim california, astro orbiter, digitalwatercolor, disneyland, panorama, rocket ride
Copyright Copyright ExpertPhoto.com All Rights Reserved
Artist ExpertPhoto.com
Make Canon
Camera Model Name Canon EOS 5D Mark II
Lens Model EF16-35mm f/2.8L USM
Focal Length 19.00mm
Shutter Speed Value 1/4 second
Aperture Value 2.80
ISO 1600
Date/Time Original Sunday September 11, 2011 08:41pm
City Anaheim
State California
Country United States
Location Disneyland Resort
GPS Altitude 56.4 meters (185.0 feet) above sea level
GPS Latitude 33.8120883333333
GPS Longitude -117.918355
Map Google Map Link

I don't like it

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I have always been a technical shooter. One that wants the photo to look realistic and how it looks in real life. Straight lines, level, centered, and well composed. I check all the OCD boxes. I can’t stand HDR. I don’t like suppressed highlights and raised shadows.

I started playing around with digital watercolor a while back and oddly enough I like the way they look. Yes, it is the opposite of my shooting style. Somehow, I like the colors and saturation and the artsy way they look. I am afraid they are here to stay in my output.

They take quite a bit of work. They are not easy to create. I can’t duplicate the same output if I start over. This is part of the appeal. Something unique about each one. I structure the original file to output at 80 inches wide at 300 dpi. In other words, I can print them over 6 feet wide.

Before The Set - a digital watercolor

Tag Name Data
Title Before The Set
Image Description This piece started as a photo I shot in Huntington Beach. I then created a 6-foot wide watercolor. It is digital art and heavily edited.
Keywords 6x12, beach, digitalwatercolor, huntington beach, lifeguard tower, surfer, surfing
Copyright Copyright ExpertPhoto.com All Rights Reserved
Artist ExpertPhoto.com
Make Canon
Camera Model Name Canon EOS R5
Lens Model EF200mm f/2.8L II USM
Focal Length 200.00mm
Shutter Speed Value 1/800 second
Aperture Value 8.00
ISO 125
Date/Time Original Saturday March 14, 2026 10:06am
City Huntington Beach
State California
Country United States
GPS Altitude 0 meters (0.0 feet) above sea level
GPS Latitude 33.6582553366167
GPS Longitude -118.006767705031
Map Google Map Link

Winchester Farms

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While at Winchester Farms, I spotted this farm stand sign on a dark wall and thought it made a decent composition. Something about the typographic chaos pulled me in. Every product demanding attention in its own competing font, color, and scale. I kept the framing simple and let the sign do the work. Clean light, nothing clever. The cartoon chicken and grinning bee reminded me how much character exists in these hand-painted roadside signs. Medjool dates, local honey, avocados. This particular corner of Southern California agriculture, distilled onto a single white banner.

Roadside sign at Winchester Farms

Tag Name Data
Title Fresh Produce Sign at Winchester Farms
Image Description This is a sign that is posted near the front entrance at Winchester Farms in Winchester California
Keywords Winchester, avocados, brown eggs, country store, honey, oranges, restaurant, sign, store, winchester farms
Copyright Copyright ExpertPhoto.com All Rights Reserved
Artist ExpertPhoto.com
Make Canon
Camera Model Name Canon EOS R5
Lens Model RF15-30mm F4.5-6.3 IS STM
Focal Length 30.00mm
Shutter Speed Value 1/100 second
Aperture Value 6.30
ISO 200
Date/Time Original Thursday November 27, 2025 12:59pm
City Winchester
State California
Country United States
Location Green Acres
GPS Altitude 460 meters (1509.2 feet) above sea level
GPS Latitude 33.7224620900028
GPS Longitude -117.075918553328
Map Google Map Link

Cris’s Juicy Burgers Harvard Street Hemet

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When interesting light catches my eye, I stop and ask myself: Is there a shot here? Sometimes I say it out loud. "No shot." Or "I'll take it." It's a split-second negotiation between what I see and what I know.

Not every shot is worth taking, and light is non-negotiable. Without it as a foundation, I'll almost always walk away.

But this moment was different. The light cut across the scene at a sharp angle, carving out geometry that felt almost architectural. Too deliberate to walk away from.

Old Cris’s Juicy Burgers on Harvard Street in Hemet California

Tag Name Data
Title Hamburgers
Image Description Old Cris’s Juicy Burgers on Harvard Street in Hemet California
Keywords 35mm film, Ilford FP4 Plus, black and white film, hamburgers, hemet california, restaurant
Copyright Copyright ExpertPhoto.com All Rights Reserved
Artist ExpertPhoto.com
Make Canon
Camera Model Name Canon EOS-3
Lens Model EF24-70mm f/2.8L II USM
Focal Length 50.00mm
Shutter Speed Value 1/250 second
Aperture Value 9.00
ISO 125
Date/Time Original Friday December 05, 2025 10:20am
City Hemet
State California
Country United States
GPS Altitude 480 meters (1574.8 feet) above sea level
GPS Latitude 33.7485573966528
GPS Longitude -116.970732376694
Map Google Map Link

Wynwood Miami

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I was in Miami recently. My normal thing is to venture into the residential neighborhoods when visiting a new area. It gives me a sense of the local culture and I am able to find photo opportunities far away from the tourist spots where everyone takes the same photo. While this shot is in a tourist area, it is also in a neighborhood. I could not resist the vibrant colors of the Wynwood area of Miami.

The first shot is a digital 10-shot stitch that is about 23k pixels wide. The second shot is a 6x17 Portra 160 negative that is also about 23k pixels wide. The digital shot is a bit wider because it is hard to stand in the exact position that will result in the same angle of view when shooting both film and digital panoramas of the same subject.

Wynwood Miami - Digital 6×17

Tag Name Data
Title Wynwood Miami
Image Description Art on walls in the Wynwood area of Miami. This one appears to be by the WH Crew
Keywords 6x17, WH Crew, graffiti, miami, panorama, stitched panorama, wynwood, wynwood walls
Copyright Copyright ExpertPhoto.com All Rights Reserved
Artist ExpertPhoto.com
Make Canon
Camera Model Name Canon EOS R5
Lens Model EF50mm f/1.2L USM
Focal Length 50.00mm
Focal Length In 35mm Format 17.00mm
Shutter Speed Value 1/250 second
Aperture Value 8.00
ISO 100
Date/Time Original Wednesday February 11, 2026 03:23pm
City Miami
State Florida
Country United States
Location Wynwood
GPS Altitude 0 meters (0.0 feet) above sea level
GPS Latitude 25.7973379967556
GPS Longitude -80.1984797734639
Map Google Map Link

Wynwood Miami - 6×17 Film

Tag Name Data
Title Wynwood Miami
Image Description Art on walls in the Wynwood area of Miami. This one appears to be by the WH Crew.
Keywords 6x17, 6x17 film, Schneider 67mm Center Filter IIIC, WH Crew, art, film, film scan, graffiti, miami, panorama, portra 160, sidewalk, wall, wynwood, wynwood walls
Copyright Copyright ExpertPhoto.com All Rights Reserved
Artist ExpertPhoto.com
Make CCB
Camera Model Name CCB 617C
Lens Model Schneider 90mm f/8 Super-Angulon
Focal Length 90.00mm
Focal Length In 35mm Format 19.00mm
Shutter Speed Value 1/30 second
Aperture Value 13.00
ISO 160
Date/Time Original Wednesday February 11, 2026 02:55pm
City Miami
State Florida
Country United States
Location Wynwood
GPS Altitude 0 meters (0.0 feet) above sea level
GPS Latitude 25.7972301733861
GPS Longitude -80.1984688616639
Map Google Map Link

Engine Company 12 Temecula

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I shot this in April of 2024. I am just getting around to posting the blog entry and the video. Watch the video as it reviews everything.

Engine Company 12 Temecula

Tag Name Data
Title Engine Company 12 Temecula
Image Description Engine Company 12 Temecula. This is a drum scan of a 6x17 negative.
Keywords 6x17 film, drum scan, engine company 12, film scan, fire station, kodak ektar 100, old town temecula, panorama, temecula
Copyright Copyright ExpertPhoto.com All Rights Reserved
Artist ExpertPhoto.com
Make Chamonix
Camera Model Name Chamonix 57Fs-2
Lens Model Nikkor-SW 90mm f/4.5
Focal Length 90.00mm
Focal Length In 35mm Format 19.00mm
Shutter Speed Value 1/60 second
Aperture Value 25.00
ISO 100
Date/Time Original Sunday April 07, 2024 02:17pm
City Temecula
State California
Country United States
GPS Altitude 310 meters (1017.1 feet) above sea level
GPS Latitude 33.4967576300639
GPS Longitude -117.150588239995
Map Google Map Link

Large Format Photography On Location - 6x17 Chamonix - Old Town Temecula, California E13

**Title**

Large Format Photography On Location - 6x17 Chamonix - Old Town Temecula, California E13

6x17 photography

6x17 Camera

Film photography

Large Format Photography

**Description**

Film photography and large format photography with a Chamonix 6x17 camera.

I head to Old Town Temecula, California where I shoot the Engine Company 12 Fire Station.

**Film Camera Gear**

Nikkor-SW 90mm f/4.5 Lens

Chamonix 57Fs-2 View Camera

Kodak Ektar 100 Color Negative Film

DAYI 6x17 Roll Film Back for 5x7

eTone 6x Focusing Loupe with diopter adjustment

Vello TSR-40 Threaded Shutter Release Cable (15.75")

Sekonic L-758DR DigitalMaster Flash Meter

Manfrotto 3021N Tripod Legs

Manfrotto 3029 Pan Tilt Tripod Head

Let me know if I missed something you are interested in

**Video Gear**

EOS R with Canon Canon EF-S 18-55mm f/4-5.6 IS STM Lens

Manfrotto 190CX3 Carbon Fiber Tripod Legs (Black)

Manfrotto MH804 3-Way, Pan-and-Tilt Head with 200LT-PL Quick Release Plate

DJI Mic 2-Person Compact Digital Wireless Microphone System

Shure MOTIV MVL Omnidirectional Lavalier Microphone

**Bags and Cases**

Think Tank Photo Airport Accelerator Backpack for large format gear

Lowepro CompuTrekker Camera Backpack for video gear

**iPhone apps**
Mark II Artist's Viewfinder - https://www.artistsviewfinder.com/

**Computer software and scanner**

Adobe Creative Suite

Epson Scan with Epson Perfection V850 Pro Scanner

**DISCLAIMER**

Not affiliated with any brands. No paid products or sponsors. This video contains no paid endorsements of any kind.

If I wear/show/talk about a brand, I like/own/use that brand in real life and get nothing in return.

I paid two artists to create the logo animation at the beginning of this video.

This was done with my direction and design instructions. It is 100% original.

00:00 - Intro animation

00:07 - Intro

01:08 - Composing

02:50 - Door opens and comments

03:08 - Camera position and leveling

03:49 - Metering

06:18 - Mount roll film back

07:45 - Take the shot

08:13 - On location rap

08:32 - Equipment

09:22 - Processing

7-Eleven Winchester

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This is a 6-foot wide digital watercolor. These are fun to make and print. They look really good up close in person. The 7-Eleven in Winchester is great to shoot. This is a single shot. Not stitched.

7-Eleven Winchester

Tag Name Data
Title 7-Eleven Winchester
Image Description This is a 6-foot wide digital watercolor. These are fun to make and print. They look really good up close in person. The 7-Eleven in Winchester is great to shoot. This is a single shot. Not stitched.
Keywords 6x17, 7-Eleven, Winchester, convenience store, digital watercolor, gas, gas pump, gas station, morning, panorama, store
Copyright Copyright ExpertPhoto.com All Rights Reserved
Artist ExpertPhoto.com
Make Canon
Camera Model Name Canon EOS R5
Lens Model EF16-35mm f/2.8L III USM
Focal Length 16.00mm
Shutter Speed Value 1/125 second
Aperture Value 5.60
ISO 6400
Date/Time Original Tuesday December 16, 2025 05:19am
City Winchester
State California
Country United States
Location French Valley
GPS Altitude 410 meters (1345.1 feet) above sea level
GPS Latitude 33.5975805832694
GPS Longitude -117.117094615002
Map Google Map Link

Coachella Valley Vista Point

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I was driving from Camera West in Rancho Mirage back home and decided to take the scenic way back. When driving from the Palm Springs area back home, I can drive the main freeways back, or take the winding roads over the mountains. I took the winding roads. The shot is an 8-shot stitched panorama. I used my 85 prime, and it is very sharp. The file is gorgeous to look at up close. It always amazes me how much detail is resolved when I use a long lens and stitch several files to build a 6x17 shot.

Coachella Valley Vista Point

Tag Name Data
Title Coachella Valley Vista Point
Image Description From the Coachella Valley Vista Point you get a great view of Palm Desert and the surrounding area. This is an 8-shot stitched panorama. The resulting file is over 24k pixels wide after cropping and gorgeous to look at up close
Keywords 6x17, Coachella Valley Vista Point, desert, mountains, palm desert, stitched panorama, view, vista point
Copyright Copyright ExpertPhoto.com All Rights Reserved
Artist ExpertPhoto.com
Make Canon
Camera Model Name Canon EOS R5
Lens Model RF85mm F2 MACRO IS STM
Focal Length 85.00mm
Shutter Speed Value 1/500 second
Aperture Value 8.00
ISO 100
Date/Time Original Saturday January 10, 2026 12:45pm
City Palm Desert
State California
Country United States
GPS Altitude 720 meters (2362.2 feet) above sea level
GPS Latitude 33.6495150849944
GPS Longitude -116.400724858327
Map Google Map Link

iPhone shot

Books read in 2025

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In 2025 did not read as much as usual. I still finished 16 books. Most were good. Some were not. If you are interested in my reviews on each book, then click the “books” link in the main menu of this website to see my profile on Goodreads.

16 books read in 2025

In-N-Out Burger Hemet

in

I have been creating digital watercolor paintings that are 6 feet wide. This particular shot was shot in raw with my iPhone. Shows to go ya that Chase Jarvis was right. The best camera is the one you have with you. The paintings are fun to do. They look really cool up close. I will have to print one large to enjoy.

In-N-Out Burger Hemet - Digital watercolor

Tag Name Data
Title In-N-Out Burger Hemet
Image Description I was eating lunch at In-N-Out Burger and decided to take an iPhone raw shot of the sign. I then created a digital watercolor. Fun to do.
Keywords In-N-Out, In-N-Out Burger, california, digital watercolor, fast food, hemet, hemet california, restaurant, sign, watercolor
Copyright Copyright ExpertPhoto.com All Rights Reserved
Artist ExpertPhoto.com
Make Apple
Camera Model Name iPhone 16 Pro
Lens Model iPhone 16 Pro back triple camera 6.765mm f/1.78
Focal Length 6.80mm
Focal Length In 35mm Format 48.00mm
Shutter Speed Value 1/4000 second
Aperture Value 1.80
ISO 80
Date/Time Original Wednesday December 10, 2025 10:57am
City Hemet
State California
Country United States
GPS Speed 0.03 kmh (0.02 mph)
GPS Altitude 468.1 meters (1535.8 feet) above sea level
GPS Latitude 33.7472083333333
GPS Longitude -117.001983333333
Map Google Map Link

Clayton A Record Jr Viewpoint

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It was a nice day up at the Clayton A Record Jr Viewpoint. I took this with my 85mm. One of the few non-L Canon lenses that I like. I shot 11 images but only used 8 in the final image. It is a shame that this view is only open a few days a week,

Clayton A Record Jr Viewpoint

Tag Name Data
Title Clayton A Record Jr Viewpoint
Image Description It was a nice day up at the Clayton A Record Jr Viewpoint. This is 8 vertical shots.
Keywords 6x17, Clayton A Record Jr Viewpoint, dam, diamond valley lake, lake, mountains, panorama, pump, reflection, stitched panorama
Copyright Copyright ExpertPhoto.com All Rights Reserved
Artist ExpertPhoto.com
Make Canon
Camera Model Name Canon EOS R5
Lens Model RF85mm F2 MACRO IS STM
Focal Length 85.00mm
Shutter Speed Value 1/125 second
Aperture Value 8.00
ISO 100
Date/Time Original Sunday December 21, 2025 03:39pm
City Hemet
State California
Country United States
GPS Altitude 560 meters (1837.3 feet) above sea level
GPS Latitude 33.6829315516167
GPS Longitude -117.066964636667
Map Google Map Link

Linhof Technorama 617S at Harveston Lake

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I shot this at my test location - Harveston Lake in Temecula. I needed to test the film loading and winding of my new-to-me Linhof Technorama 617S. This is a quick and crude scan. Definitely not for publishing. The light was not the greatest and I really don’t like it. Good thing this was just a test.

The test was successful. The Technorama is ready to be deployed. Stay runed for more images from this legendary camera.

Linhof Technorama 617S test shot

Tag Name Data
Title Linhof Technorama 617S
Image Description I shot this at my test location - Harveston Lake in Temecula. I needed to test the film loading and winding of my new-to-me Linhof Technorama 617S
Keywords 6x17 film, harveston lake, kodak portra 160, linhof technorama 617S, morning, panorama, temecula
Copyright Copyright ExpertPhoto.com All Rights Reserved
Artist ExpertPhoto.com
Make Linhof
Camera Model Name Linhof Technorama 617S
Lens Model Schneider 90mm f/5.6 Super-Angulon
Focal Length 90.00mm
Focal Length In 35mm Format 19.00mm
Shutter Speed Value 1/30 second
Aperture Value 16.00
ISO 160
Date/Time Original Sunday November 23, 2025 08:25am
City Temecula
State California
Country United States
Location Harveston
GPS Altitude 330 meters (1082.7 feet) above sea level
GPS Latitude 33.5374266500028
GPS Longitude -117.157116816672
Map Google Map Link

Harveston Lake Park Temecula California

in

Harveston Lake is one of my go-to places to shoot and test new gear. It is full of color and people. I recently took some shots with my new RF 15-30. I came to the conclusion that I am going to relegate this lens to just video and stick to my EF 16-35. Too bad, I was hoping for a lighter native wide zoom, but Canon continues to put out lenses with inadequate coverage. Canon would rather force software stretching than build lenses with the correct coverage. They are showing their greed and making me less likely to buy Canon glass.

Here are a few shots from that day.

2025 Ford F-150 in Hemet California

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I took this shot of a 2025 Ford F-150 4x4 Supercrew XLT at a Ford dealership in Hemet, California. I was testing my X-700 to make sure my new 50mm was working well. The photos came out great. I liked this particular shot of the tailgate of one of the trucks on the lot.

2025 Ford F-150 4x4 Supercrew XLT

Tag Name Data
Title 2025 Ford F-150 4x4 Supercrew XLT
Image Description 2025 Ford F-150 4x4 Supercrew XLT at a Ford dealership in Hemet, California
Keywords 35mm film, Ford truck, Ilford FP4 Plus, black and white, black and white film, film scan, ford, minolta, minolta x-700, truck
Copyright Copyright ExpertPhoto.com All Rights Reserved
Artist ExpertPhoto.com
Make Minolta
Camera Model Name Minolta X-700
Lens Model Minolta MD 50mm f/1.7
Focal Length 50.00mm
Shutter Speed Value 1/250 second
Aperture Value 11.00
ISO 125
Date/Time Original Friday October 31, 2025 02:02pm
City Hemet
State California
Country United States
GPS Altitude 450 meters (1476.4 feet) above sea level
GPS Latitude 33.7406003450139
GPS Longitude -117.03093625665
Map Google Map Link

2014 Mac Mini with pfSense

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I have two 2014 Mac Minis running pfSense at home. I run two physical networks, one inside the other for obvious reasons. If you have to ask, then you wouldn’t understand. What is important here is that you can buy these computers for dirt cheap, and with pfSense and a USB NIC, bob’s your uncle. Yes it can be done, and they work great. I am not using virtual machines, pfSense is running on the metal.

2014 Mac Mini with pfSense

Duffy Electric Boats Sales and Rentals

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Last summer, I took my immediate family to Newport Beach, California to Duffy Electric Boats Sales and Rentals. I have wanted to buy a boat more than once, but I always remember the old saying about the two best days in a boat owner’s life. As an alternative, I rent boats whenever I want to go out on a boat. I rent either a speed boat, or a put-put boat if we just want to cruise around. Newport harbor is a fun harbor to put around in and Duffy Electric Boats Sales and Rentals is a great place to rent a boat. The staff was helpful, and courteous. I had a great experience.

The photos were taken with my iPhone in raw mode. I don’t carry a camera when I am out just for fun with the family.

Historic Hemet Theatre

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The Historic Hemet Theatre is a movie theater in Hemet California built in 1921 by William Martin. It is one of the oldest movie theatres in the country.

It took about 10 trips to this location to get this shot done. After choosing the best time of day to shoot, then I had to deal with parked cars on both sides of the street. When I finally arrived on a day where there were no cars in my way I got this shot. The funny thing was, after setting up my 4x5, I forgot my film in the car and had to go back to the car and get it. When I got back, there was a car parked in the spot I needed to shoot from. Luckily, I was able to position my tripod in the correct spot in the street and still not touch the car, or have any part of the car in the frame.

This was shot on Kodak Portra 160 with a 150mm lens and drum scanned. The resulting file is huge as always with a 4x5 film drum scan. I don’t like a few things in the photo, but as always with urban scenes, there are trade-offs, and for me they add to the story of the image.

I also shot this on 35mm Ilford FP4 (black&white film), and digital. The 4x5 is my favorite, but the FP4 shot is a close runner-up. I don’t like the digital shot.

The theater manager had seen me with a camera outside on one of my first scouting trips and asked if they could have a photo, so naturally I agreed. They have no idea how much time went into this including film developing, drum scanning etc. The good news is that I love this and would have done it anyway.

Hopefully the theatre gets restored at some point. If my photos help their social media, then all the better.

Historic Hemet Theatre - 4×5 film version

Tag Name Data
Title Historic Hemet Theatre
Image Description The Historic Hemet Theatre is a movie theater in Hemet California built in 1921 by William Martin. It is one of the oldest movie theatres in the country.
Keywords 4x5 camera, 4x5 film, california, film scan, hemet, hemet california, historic hemet theatre, kodak portra 160, morning
Copyright Copyright ExpertPhoto.com All Rights Reserved
Artist ExpertPhoto.com
Make Toyo-Field
Camera Model Name Toyo-Field 45CF
Lens Model Schneider 150mm f/5.6 Apo-Symmar
Focal Length 150.00mm
Focal Length In 35mm Format 45.00mm
Shutter Speed Value 1/250 second
Aperture Value 16.00
ISO 160
Date/Time Original Saturday December 06, 2025 10:45am
City Hemet
State California
Country United States
GPS Altitude 480 meters (1574.8 feet) above sea level
GPS Latitude 33.7477622416889
GPS Longitude -116.969867274989
Map Google Map Link

Historic Hemet Theatre - 35mm film version

Tag Name Data
Title Historic Hemet Theatre
Image Description The Historic Hemet Theatre is a movie theater in Hemet California built in 1921 by William Martin. It is one of the oldest movie theatres in the country.
Keywords 35mm film, Ilford FP4 Plus, black and white film, california, film scan, hemet, hemet california, historic hemet theatre, marquee sign, morning, movie theater, sign, theater
Copyright Copyright ExpertPhoto.com All Rights Reserved
Artist ExpertPhoto.com
Make Canon
Camera Model Name Canon EOS-3
Lens Model EF24-70mm f/2.8L II USM
Focal Length 40.00mm
Shutter Speed Value 1/320 second
Aperture Value 11.00
ISO 125
Date/Time Original Thursday November 27, 2025 11:42am
City Hemet
State California
Country United States
GPS Altitude 480 meters (1574.8 feet) above sea level
GPS Latitude 33.7477622416889
GPS Longitude -116.969867274989
Map Google Map Link
Historic Hemet Theatre

Historic Hemet Theatre - Digital version

Tag Name Data
Title Historic Hemet Theatre
Image Description The Historic Hemet Theatre is a movie theater in Hemet California built in 1921 by William Martin. It is one of the oldest movie theatres in the country.
Keywords california, hemet, hemet california, historic hemet theatre, marquee sign, morning, movie theater, sign, theater
Copyright Copyright ExpertPhoto.com All Rights Reserved
Artist ExpertPhoto.com
Make Canon
Camera Model Name Canon EOS R5
Lens Model EF16-35mm f/2.8L III USM
Focal Length 35.00mm
Shutter Speed Value 1/250 second
Aperture Value 16.00
ISO 160
Date/Time Original Saturday December 06, 2025 11:09am
City Hemet
State California
Country United States
GPS Altitude 480 meters (1574.8 feet) above sea level
GPS Latitude 33.7477622416889
GPS Longitude -116.969867274989
Map Google Map Link