Monthly Archives: April 2025

Shot at one of our workshops together in Nashville.

 

 

Lots of famous people have come from Kentucky, Ricky Skaggs is one of our finest!  I’m not talking about his dozens of Grammies, or his being placed in the Country Music Hall of Fame, or his tremendous and large fan base, no I’m talking about Ricky Skaggs the man!  I met Ricky through photography over twenty years ago and from that first day, sitting and talking with him, I knew he was different.  Ricky is the real deal,  while incredibly talented, he is truly down to earth and comfortable in any setting with regular people.  He loves the Lord with all his heart and I’ve never seen him not take the time to show sincere interest in anyone who approached him, whether it was during a meal or on the street!

 

I’ve had the pleasure of teaching a number of workshops with Ricky and every attendee calls him a friend by the end of the experience!  Because of him, I’ve met a number of famous entertainers and everyone says Ricky is one of the best people they’ve ever met, that is saying something.

 

I just wanted to honor him in this blog entry and share with you all, what a honor it has been to become a friend of his.  I look forward to endless days of visiting when we both get home to our final and forever home some day!  Till then God Speed Ricky!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

 

For many years I’ve been a Gold Star Member of the Bag of The Month Club!!!!!!!  O.K so there is no such thing, but I’ve bought, owned and used a great number of bags, slings, shoulder bags, backpacks,. rolling cases and the like!!!!!!!  I currently have over 40 in my office!  The photo above is where most are stored. Another 7 are my current ones in daily use.

 

Question Number One:  Why??????  Probably the most accurate answer is “I have a problem!”  You know how it is, you have several cameras and a bunch of lenses and you want a way to transport them, and protect them from the elements, after all they cost a lot of money!  The manufacturers of bags, keep coming out with new and exciting options and you buy them to try them out.  Most of the time, you love them for a month or so, then realize they are lacking in some way!  So the search continues!  Do this for 50 years and, well you see the result!  Also I’m sort of part fof the photo press so I review and write about bags, at least that is one of the excuses I use for buying so many!

 

Question Number Two:  Since I’ve bought and owned so many bags do I have any favorite companies?  Yes, but let me name them by category!  

Most rugged made bags with the best materials:  Think Tank/Mindshift, Tenba, Domke, Lightware, Pelican and Nanuk.  All of these makers have made bags, that for me, have held up under the heaviest, most abusive conditions and continued to protect my gear!  They are all well designed and brands I go back to, time after time.  I’ve never had any of them fail me.

Who makes bags that are the best bang for your buck!  Lowpro, Whotencraft, Wandrd and Domke have all been. good value for money spent.  At one time Lowepro would have also been in the category of best made, not so much anymore, the’ve gone through multiple owners!

 

Question Three: Are there expensive bags that are still worth the higher price?  Yes, the English company Billingham make beautiful hand made bags that are wonderfully crafted and made of great materials, with a good use of leather.  They are not cheap, but are one of the few bags left that are crafted by hand and worth the higher price.

 

Question Four, do I have too many bags?  Are you kidding, you bet I do!!!!!!

 

Question Five; If you want to look cool which bag should you choose?  I think Domke and Billingham are two of the best choices for that!  Team them up with a vintage Leica and you’re golden!  Peak Design bags and back packs are very popular with many younger photographers.   Domke was the choice of many photojournalists for decades and still are some of my favorites, I own at least a half dozen, they’re practical and rugged!

 

Question Six;  Do I have a current favorite?  Sorry that’s too hard to answer!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

 

                                                 Pine branch on a bed of tiny pine cones.       

 

This is an old shot I found again, recently.  Shot it in Brown County, Indiana, love it because I was standing next to Jim Haverstock!  Always a good day!

 

Local cabin in the rain, just found it peaceful!

 

Final shot made years ago in Kanab, Utah, on my way up to Bryce Canyon National Park!

 

Just fun to share, hope you enjoyed them!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

 

 

 

Two exceptional photographers and great friends passed away in the last few days.  I have great memories of both and wanted to share something about each man.

 

Several years ago I had a dream, to produce a book from a project my son Wes and I were about to embark on.  I had sponsors and a plan, everything I needed except a publisher!  I had pitched the idea for America From 500 Feet to several publishing houses and while they all thought it was a great idea, none of them were willing to take a chance on it!  This is not an uncommon issue in trying to get a book published, after all, it is the publisher that takes the biggest risk and if it fails, they are the biggest loser!

 

While I was wringing my hands trying to figure out what to do, someone gave me a gift, a book by Jim Brandenburg, it was also a great idea!  Jim shot a picture a day for 90 days called Chased By The Light.  It was a great photo essay of his native area around the Canoe Boundary Waters National Recreation area, and it was incredible!  Having run a workshop with Jim I called him to offer congratulations and share how much I loved his new book!  During the phone call he asked what I was working on, photographers are always working on something!  I shared about my idea for an aviation portrait of America from and ultralight airplane, and he loved the idea, then I told him I didn’t have a publisher and was having trouble getting anyone to believe in my project as much as I did!  He surprised me by asking if I would mind if he told his editor at Northword Press about my idea and see if she was interested.  I told him I would really appreciate it!  A few days later I got a call from Barbara Harold, his editor, and she enthusiastically asked if Northword Press could produce my book!

 

She made an incredible offer and the rest is history.  America From 500 Feet went on to be an incredible success, all thanks to Jim’s kindness!  Jim was an extremely successful photographer and he didn’t have to offer his help, but he did!  I will forever be in his debt for his help.  That was who Jim Brandenburg was, someone who thought well beyond his own life and was a always ready to offer help to others, I was one of the lucky ones he reached out to!

 

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Bryan Peterson was among the most talented photographers I’ve ever known and beyond his abilities as a shooter was an incredible teacher!  Bryan lit up every room he ever entered!  He was funny, and always had an incredible smile for everyone he met!  I did many workshops with Bryan including a two week jaunt cross France with a small group.  I will always have great memories of time spent with him in the field.

 

At one event we called the Southwest Tour which was a 3 and half day tour of  Slot Canyons, Bryce Canyon National Park and Zion National Park Bryan showed his wonderful friendship with me at a breakfast during that tour.  We met at Ruby’s Best Western for breakfast on one of the tour days after a sunrise shoot at Bryce Canyon and Bryan came to the breakfast table and announced he could longer work for what I was paying him!  I told Bryan that I wish I could pay more, but I was loosing money paying what I was paying now!  To my shock he said I know, you’re paying all of us (all the photographers we worked with), to much!  He said all of the photographers I was hiring would work for less, that I was to generous, and that I should ask all of the speakers if they would consider taking less!

 

That next week I asked all my presenters if they would work with me, and they all said yes and it saved our business!  How many people do you know that would negotiate for less of a fee!  Bryan loved what we were doing and was kind enough to help me run the business in a better way that allowed it to be  a success!  Bryan inspired me. constantly as a shooter, but even more as a friend!  I’ll miss him!

 

When your life is going great and good things are happening to you, take a moment and think about how you got to where you are!  I’ll bet a Jim or Bryan was a big art of your success as well!  Thankfulness is recognizing we didn’t get here alone!

 

God Speed my dear friends, I hope you’re enjoying your new Heavenly Home!

See you soon!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim