It all started for me a few years ago while Jack (Graham) and I were teaching a workshop in the Grand Tetons in fall. One especially nice morning, in great light, I shot a quick image with my iPhone 7+ (above). I processed it and sent it to Sherelene and some family and friends. I had started doing that from time to time to simply say this where I am and I wish you all were here to enjoy this moment! Being able to share moments in real-time was the point!

 

Later that day I put that image in a teaching program and the students
were amazed that it was an iPhone shot, I was too!  Shown through my 4K Canon LCD projector it looked great on the screen, blown up quite large!

 

That group of students averaged about 68 or 69 years old. In the last
10 years, I can count on two hands, the number of participants to attend our workshops under 60 years of age. Many of us got into photography in a serious way when we were very young. For us photography always has been a “serious” camera, several lenses, a camera bag or backpack and a tripod, that’s just the way it has always been! In fact part of the fun has been all the “tools” we use, the tactile joy of holding and operating a camera, changing lenses, and using a tripod.

 

By contrast today’s millennials grew up playing video games and being babysat with a mobile game device! Different strokes for different folks!

 

The question is which is better; your “serious camera” or a smart phone?

 

Let’s explore that a little! Let’s start with a comparison of Form Factor.

 

First the iPhone 12 Pro Max:  That’s it, an iPhone and that’s all, fits in your pocket.

 

 

 

Second a Fujifilm X-S10 my smallest lightest Fujifilm body, and the 16mm, 35mm and 50mm lenses that approxinmate the range of focal lengths available on the iPhone 12 Pro Max.  The iPhone has the edge in an even wider lens that the 16mm on the Fujifilm.  

 

1.  PORTABILITY: Advantage: iPhone for being smaller, lighter and equally good range of focal lengths, and fits in your pocket!

 

 

2.  VERSATILITY:  Advantage:  Goes to the Fujifilm system, more lens choices, superior frame rate and bigger juicier files.

 

3.  Family and Friends Photography:  While the Fujifilm “Serious” camera is more versatile, the iPhone is easier to get shots without affecting people’s behavior.  During the Christmas week we had a lot of family members drop in and I used the iPhone to shoot casual shots.  In Holiday’s past when I lifted a “serious” camera to my eye people covered their faces saying please I haven’t done my hair or whatever.  This Christmas people just beamed and smiled!  Being photographed with a phone is not as threatening to people and I got some great images of family!

 

 

3. People photography:  Advantge:  iPhone!

 

 

The top two images are with the iPhone the bottom with the Fujifilm “serious” camera!  Pretty amazing, I think you will agree!

 

4. Nature Images:  Close, but Advantage: Fujifilm Serious Camera.

 

 

CONCLUSION:  Is there  winner?  YES, Us, the photo community.  If you want to enjoy the tactile joy of a real “serious” camera with great glass, long glass, super wide glass, big files and rich detail you have it in our modern “Serious’ cameras!   But if you want the convenience of carrying a camera, phone, GPS. calculater and weather report and much more in your pocket, we have modern smartphones, with not bad cameras, within their limitations!   So I will keep shooting my beloved Fujifilm cameras and lenses, but my iPhone 12 Pro Max will be in my coat pocket too!!!

 

I’ll be happy to own and use both to full advantage!

 

Bessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

I look forward to your input and thoughts!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

The comment from Carl Turner yesterday turned on a light in my spirit.  With all the bad news in the media today, and the dread of what our nation might become now, I think he is right, our job is to spread God’s love, family love and the Good News of Jesus Christ now, more than ever, so here goes!  The image above was from one Christmas with Catherine and candles!

 

 

One of the great blessings of my life was the day I met and interviewed Coash Paul “Bear” Bryant in his offices in Tusakloosa, Alabama. That was his last season to coach and he died three months after this photograph was made.

 

 

One of the great times of my life was getting to become friends with the late Hugh Morton, owner of Grandfather Mountain, yes I said owner.  Hugh owned the only, privately owned,  International Biosphere in the world!.  That freindship was because the late Don Nelson introduced us and we all became great friends.  How else could a guy like me get to frolic under the trees with a bear cub!

 

 

Never forget that Our Heavenly Father is the same yesterday, today and forever, no matter how dicouraging things appear, he is still in Control and His will, will be done.  Our job is ot stay faithful to Him and fulfill his will for our lives!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

 

 

 

My daughter. Catherine, dropped by today because I had found an old slide I knew she would love to see!   B.J. (Thomas) was doing  live show near us and I went down to say hi again, after the performance he came to our pick nick table and we visited.  I aksed if Catherine could give him a hug, she had a great crush on him, he said sure, I think it is obvious they both enjoyied  it!

 

 

On a visit to National Geographic, I took Catherine along and she was a big hit, espcially with the late, great Pete Petrone, the equipment mnager of N.G. While sititng in his office he asked her if she ever shot pictures and she said she didn’t have a cmaera.  He opened a big lower desk drawer and pulled out a new, in the box camera and said, “Now you do!”  I said, Pete you don’t have to that, and he said to me, “mind your own business, this is between she and I!”  What a generous, great guy he was!

 

 

One of my favorite photographs of her was actually shot by Sherelene.  We were at a fair at Cumberland Gap N. H. P. and Catherine was getting a face painitng, Sherelene shot a wonderful image of her!

 

 

On another occasion we all met with Ned and his wife Tinker at a Penny Riley State Park in Eastern Kentucly near where Ned was filming a movie. Catherine in blue jumper was waving!

 

 

When Catherine was older I took her on a number of workshop trips, here we are at Grandfather Mountain with Gerrie the bear!

 

 

This is one of my favorite images of us together, we were in Arches N.P. at a workshop.A friend shot this for us!

 

From little Rodeo Gal, (her favorite top), to driving a jeep in Arches, Catherine has been a delight in my life.  When Sherelene was expectng our third child she kept saying it was going to be a girl, and she was right against all odds, Catherine was the first girl born in our family in 21 years and only one of a few against dozens of boys, she has been a miracle in so many ways,  I love you sweetheart!

 

 

 

I’ve been blessed,

 

the pilgrim

 

Remember I have been sorting slides, so these photography friends go back to the film days, just be sure you know a lot of Digital era friends would otherwise be here! I know lots of great friends are being left out, these are just the slides I’ve found and boy did they bring back great memories!  Thank you to all these great friends!

 

 

So  many great moments in the field with these great shooters and friends!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim