I have a message for my readers.  It is written with the best of intentions and from the perspective of a patriot and a follower of Christ.  I make these proclamations because that is the frame work in which the message fits. If you  do not love America and if  you are not a Christian,  you probably will not see things the way I do.  You might even stop reading now.  

 

Why this message and why now?  The last weeks assassination of Charlie Kirk was a difficult experience for me and many Americans. The most difficult part of all this, is where we are as a society.  The anger and hatred that exists in our country is way bey0nd disturbing!  In years past we have been able to hold different opinions and views and still been able to get along.  Sadly that has evaporated.

 

I do not believe that the taking of any humans life over our political views is ever warranted.  I understand that our views can be strongly held, but these kinds of acti0ns are never the solution!  If you hate everyone that holds a different political view, please pray for those you oppose, ask God to speak to their heart.  If your strongly held beliefs lead you to hate others,  pray that God will heal your heart!

 

As Erika Kirk said at the Celebration of Charlie’s Life.  As Jesus hung on the cross and having been mistreated worse than any of us have ever been, He said, “Father forgive than for they not what they do!”  I pray that we can forgive one another and live in peace.  I want to exhibit that kind of love, I pray that you want that too!

 

Blessings,

the pilgrim

 

the pilgrim

 

 

As a photographer I admire a lot of people with skills far greater than mine!  One off my favorite photographers and friends is Joe McNally.  To have him as a guest in our home and to just spend time together was a great joy and blessing, but to have him say,  ” may I photograph you ?”  was an honor for sure.  Even though he was badly handicapped with the subject matter, he captured me with his patented authenticity, I loved the shot! 

 

He caused me to think a little about how blessed I am with some truly great friends!  My best earthly friend is, of course, Sherelene, my bride!  Not a day goes by that I don’t wonder how she ever agreed to marry me!  Then comes my brother, Homer, he has taught me so much, by example!   I’ve been blessed with many great people in my life but four stand out as true friends, those kinds of people you can share anything with and rely on!  Jack Graham, Jim Haverstock, Carl Turner and Tony Rogers are those kinds of friends!  What a blessing to have them in my life!  You are truly a blessed man if you can count that many!

 

I have a handful of dear friends that are already with the Lord, and I look forward to giving them a hug again someday!  Till then I’m truly blessed here!

 

In Him,

 

the pilgrim

Two early wide angles, the 24m. f2.8 and a 35mm f 2 with rear lens caps glued back to back!

 

It was no one less than the great John Shaw that said, “I never met a lens I didn’t like….or buy!”   Amen, that same 6hng could be said of me as well!  After all,   a great camera is wonderful, but it is the lens that make all the difference!  I wouldn’t even want to guess how many lenses I’ve owned , but it has to be in the hundreds!

 

A little history; I started in photography in the 1960’s around 1968.  My first real camera was from Nikon. a Nikkormat FTN  that was sold with a 50mm f 2 lens.  Shortly after I bought a 35mm f 2 and a 105mm f 2.5. then it was off to the races!!!!  I stayed with Nikon for 43 years!!!!  After shoulder surgery I moved to the lighter Fujifilm X System,  Only recently I’ve picked up some small Micro 4/3rds cameras and  and lenses which I use for light travel, from Olympus and Panasonic  (Lumix) I am currently shooting with a complete Fujifilm system.

 

Here are some of my all time favorite lenses some images made with them!

 

 

Starting at the long end, my favorite all time long lens was the Nikon 400mm f 3.5 telephoto.  It was fast and exceedingly sharp and even though manual focus (back then everything was!)   It was a beautiful lens!

 

The African Bee Easter!

Two examples above!

 

 

My favorite short telephoto and portrait lens was the Nikon 105mm f 2.5 this image of my dear friend Mike Ellison above and my daughter Catherine with our Basset Hound, B.J. are two examples of it’s most common use!

 

 

 

 

 

Two more examples of the wonderful versatility of a 105mm!

 

My most used wide angle lens has been the 24mm f 2.8,  some examples below.

 

 

Those are some of my favorite lenses from the film era!!!

 

Watch for a future post with some of my favorite Digital Era lenses!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim

I just returned from Grandfather Mountain in Western N.C.  This year was the 39th Annual Nature Photography weekend, an event, I helped start 41 years ago!!  Why the differents of two years?  They did not hold the event during the 2 Covid years!  But with the help of a great team of workers it has been a great event near selling out very year for all that time!  Hugh Morton and the original team including Don Nelson and Tom Payne and myself,   managed it for many years!  Upon Hugh’s passing in 2006 the Mountain, privately owned by Hugh, was transferred into a long term lease to the state of North Carolina when it was made into a State Park.

 

Going back this year was a wonderful chance to see a lot of old friends made through the years!  It was made tougher since on Tuesday of this week in the hospital I was diagnosed with Pneumonia and was virtually without my voice but somehow God got be through it and I as able to open the evening talk on the first evening!  It must have gone o.k. because I found no tomato stains on my clothes!  What a heavenly place “The Mountain is!!!”   My thanks to all those great folks!!!!!

 

Blessings,

 

the pilgrim