A new Operating System for my Mac

meant that my scanning software needed updating. I have tried a Demo version of Silverfast (an older version of which I had been using) and today tested and bought VueScan. It seems simpler and faster and I like the results from my first roll. The big test will be when I put a roll of Medium Format film in the tray, but I'm sure that all will be well.

It is very mild here and has been damp. Reading about avalanches and related deaths in the mountains to our South is not good and I see that the USA and Canada have been hit by proper winter storms as well.

Went for an enjoyable photowalk yesterday with Mirco and Peter- I was very happy with the way in which my pics turned out.

Onward and upward.


Tune of the Day:  Hey You    by Pink Floyd

I am going to see more movies this year

and started off the year with Nebraska today. It was most enjoyable and has put me in the mood to get into the cinema and keep up-to-date.

I'm heading out again tomorrow to take some more photos and looking forward to that. The weather should hold until we are finished which makes things much more pleasant. I've just been reading about the snow and ice storms racing across North America at the moment...... has me thinking about buying an even warmer jacket!

The duck for dinner was good. Thanks!

Tune of the Day: Set Me Free    by Los Lobos

Happy New Year!

I'm not a great one for New Year's Resolutions, so there is no need to go into that  ;-)  We had an enjoyable dinner with friends last night, a relaxed day today and I am about to head out to a New Year's Day party for a few drinks. Catherine will be headed off to the office tomorrow and I will continue with my Lightroom learning and see if I can start to get things under control.


Tune of the Day:  Sara   by Bob Dylan

It was a very Merry Christmas

and the most relaxed that I can remember in years. We ate well and took it easy (the rain meant that we didn't even venture out for a walk after lunch) and with ongoing rain/snow today, it looks as if we may be stuck inside all day again.

I am exploring my new Adobe Lightroom software and I think that it will be a big improvement over the old stuff which I was using. There is some sort of a learning curve but I am in no big rush and want to get it right.

Tune of the Day:  She's Got Balls     by AC/DC

Lucerne was fun

and I was happy with the way in which my photos turned out. It is always interesting to shoot film (especially Medium-Format) alongside someone who is shooting digital. I think that during the course of the day I took nearly 30 photos whereas he had shot 150 by lunchtime  :-)

Went shopping today for some new photo software and grabbed another external drive whilst in the store and my order from ars-imago arrived in the Post. Just like Christmas!


Looking forward to taking it easy tomorrow and getting a few things done around home. Can't forget that tomorrow is Dr Dan's birthday!


Tune of the Day:  Mannish Boy    by Muddy Waters

Off to Lucerne in the morning

to have a look about and take some more photos. Meeting a mate in town nice and early for a wake-up coffee before heading off to try our luck. It should be fun and as I haven't been to Lucerne in a little while, it will be good to try to get some more shots.

I am planning on taking a big, old camera and a tripod..... so if you see me out there, please be kind.

Not a lot of news- caught up with some friends this morning for a very interesting chat about photography and I'm looking forward to seeing Big Dan for a beer on Thursday evening. Christmas is getting closer!

Tune of the Day:  Orange Claw Hammer    by Captain Beefheart

I've met more interesting people, had a great little dinner party

at home, lunch-set-match, been to the Tricky concert and done a bit of running about. Full steam ahead this week as well. After shopping today, things look to be organised for our guests on Sunday evening.

One more photo to shoot for my Week 50 Challenge which ends tomorrow. Depending on the weather in the morning I may even shoot another roll of film and try to get something out of that.

Not too much else to report..... if anyone is struggling with Christmas gift ideas for me, please feel free to drop me a note  ;-)

Tune of the Day:  Sympathy For The Devil

Thanks Masi and Walti

we both really enjoyed the day out. Lunch was great and the company was terrific as always. Just a shame about the weather  ;-)

I have a busy week ahead of me- a concert tomorrow night, visitors for dinner on Tuesday night, a magazine launch on Wednesday morning and then lunch with some mates.... I could go on.

My Week 50 Photo Challenge started today- I was happy enough with my first photo and will be trying to shoot quite a bit to make sure that I have more pics for the rest of the week.

Very Tricky!


Tune of the Day:  Crime in the Desert    by Eno and Cale

Not a lot to report

but Tricky is getting closer, lunch with Ralf and the lads is looming and Carina's new magazine is going to be released next week as well. Look out!

Plenty to do with Week 50 on the horizon as well- that will mean taking plenty of photos with a 50mm lens (I have a few to choose from) and sharing one daily on Nikoncafe. It is always great to see what the others are able to produce and there will definitely be some inspiring stuff.

Tune of the Day:  Can I Sit Next To You Girl    by AC/DC

Foto Museum Winterthur is well worth a visit

and it is nice to find somewhere else to spend a cool December day. I really enjoyed having a look around there today and even became a member. They will see me again soon!

Thanks to Catherine for a fantastic dinner (yet again). We enjoyed a great beef and vegetable pie topped with mashed potato and accompanied by a bottle of Il Bruciato. Brilliant!

Tomorrow is back to work. No! Wait! Hahahahahahahahaha.....


Tune of the Day: Out Of The Blue   by Roxy Music

The swim can wait until tomorrow

but I am up and about and will be heading off to a meeting shortly. It will be good to get back into the swimming habit again and I should have a little time to get stuck in during the quieter times in the pool. It is certainly no fun trying to swim in heavy traffic when you are struggling.

Shot a roll of 120 film yesterday and I was very impressed with the way the Ilford HP5+ turned out. Looking forward to doing more research as long as the sun is shining.

Dinner tonight. Will be fun!


Tune of the Day: San Francisco    by  The Mowgli's

It makes a difference when the sun comes out

the temperature can be 5° cooler, but the world seems like a warmer and better place. I enjoyed taking a few photos in the sun today and will try to get some more tomorrow. Did some running around and cooked dinner- someone was appreciative!

Tomorrow is tidy up my desk day and I will put some loud music on and try to sort my whole office while I am at it. After that I have a few nights out planned- it will be luxury to be able to sleep in afterwards.

Another Viewfinder show on Friday evening and I'm looking forward to it. Sunday is a visit to the Winterthur Foto Museum.

Tune of the Day:  Eight Miles High    by Leo Kottke

Imagine going all the way to München to eat Vietnamese food with other Australians

well...... I did and it was most enjoyable. Thanks Jac and Tom for coming out and being great company- I hope that you both had a good time as well. Strangely enough, I also managed to squeeze in a couple of beers  :-)

Took some photos as well- it was very grey and foggy, so not the best conditions but I have some film to develop tomorrow in any case.

And I bought one of these.....

Tune of the Day:  Son Of A Preacher Man   by Dusty Springfield

Collected a roll of colour film today

which had been sitting in the camera for quite a while and was only dropped off on Saturday for developing. I really like the pics from Italy which were on the roll and a couple of the shots from Zürich were ok as well.

I have packed up some black and white film to head to München tomorrow- expecting grey weather and great beer. Anyone going to be about?

Held something very exciting in my hands today...... hopefully more (good) news at the end of the week.


Tune of the Day:  Mysterons    by  Portishead

A productive, wet Sunday

I have developed a roll of film and scanned the negatives, had a couple of great meals (thanks Cookie!) and generally listened to Tom Waits and taken it easy.

We ran the gauntlet yesterday and visited IKEA. It was a pretty shocking experience on a Saturday and luckily I only wanted to get some photo frames and not spend too much time there. I can imagine reading about some whackjob shooting a bunch of people in an IKEA store one day.

Thinking about heading off to München for a quick visit next week. Will check the weather report and see how things look.

Tune of the Day: Sixteen Shells From A Thirty-Ought Six   by Tom Waits

Tickets to Tricky have been ordered

and I'm starting to get excited about Oktoberfest this Friday evening. BTW- how can they have the audacity to call it "Oktoberfest" when it runs into November?  :-)

The wine ships are on at the moment in Zürich and I may even manage to make a quick trip down to the lake to check them out. I haven't been these past couple of years, but it would be nice to find the time....  That means, of course, that the Whisky Ships will also be on soon. Now that might be fun.

As much as I dislike the idea, I need to visit Ikea soon. I have lots of photos which I would like to frame and that seems like the best option for finding a variety of frames at reasonable prices. Sadly there isn't a lot of reclaimed timber to be had around here (and if there was, it would be priced similarly to unicorn hair, so I will go without). Thanks.

Tune of the Day:  Walk On The Wild Side    by   Lou Reed

It is about time that I got back to work here

as it won't be long and I won't have another job to go to!

Out today and took a few photos on a roll of film- if the weather co-operates tomorrow I might try to get that finished and in the developing tank. I also have a half roll of colour film sitting in my Hasselblad which is left from Italy and needs to be finished and developed as well.

Aelplermaccheroni and wheat beer for dinner this evening was fantastic, but we are both so tired that there won't be a movie night. Perhaps tomorrow?!

Welcome to Marissa Barnard!


Tune of the Day: Bigmouth Strikes Again     by The Smiths