Frank Solle

The usual. Death Valley. Joshua Tree. KOFA. Sonoran. 3-4 weeks with any luck. Weather dependent as always.

The setting Wolf Moon from the back stoop. We will be hitting the road on another extended trip in a couple days & I thought this would be a good time to start a break from the SM scene. Y'all take care, have fun, and be kind to others.

Cute little toadstool. Death Valley. Bronica SQA, Portra 160. #believeinfilm

I pushed Tri-X to 1600 in 35mm years ago doing sports for a couple different newspapers. Never tried doing so in 120. Has to be better quality w/ larger negs.

End of the trail. Small canyon Death Valley NP. 12.23. Bronica SQA, 80mm, Portra 160. #believeinfilm

I remember the 1984 commercial. Never used one of these, but worked the SE at my first newspaper job a few years later.

Toadstools. White Rocks. Grand Staircase-Escalante NM. RB67, Portra 160. #believeinfilm

Looks like I pre-dated the CG by 100 years. My bad.

Two doors. 1864 Crown Graphic Special w/ 6x9 back. Schneider Xenar 135mm f/4.7 lens. Bergger PanCro 400. #believeinfilm

Same with your Yukon images. I also finished a roll of Portra 160 on the final 2 scenes.

klondike strawberries, painted by mary daisy arnold, 1915

klondike strawberries, painted by mary daisy arnold, 1915

A short recce to Zion this morning to check on an area I spotted during our last visit. Light on the temples/towers, & looking toward the canyon mouth, but not much in the main canyon where it stays shaded & chilly. Still, Zion, baby. Hard to argue w/ that. Nikon Df w/ 24 (7-frame pano)-85-50-50.

Thanks, Peter. Happy to get back there and not mess it up.

Thanks, Max.

Yes it was and I'm thankful it worked out.

Thanks.

pecans, painted by ellen isham schutt

pecans, painted by ellen isham schutt

Had to wait a year to get back to this little hill in Mojave National Preserve to take this image as I didn't have the right gear the first time. I can see a stone face looking back. Bronica SQA, 80mm, Fuji Acros I, orange filter. #believeinfilm

Mt. Whitney. Bronica SQA, 150mm, Ilford PanF, orange filter. #believeinfilm

Looks like someone shoveled. How's your back?

cherries, painted by deborah griscom passmore, 1897

cherries, painted by deborah griscom passmore, 1897

Since 12/yr is a good haul, here's a final set of 4 on film for '23. 1) Greenville school, Mini Speed Graphic, Lomo Earl Grey; 2) Huntington Tractor, Orangeville, Bronica SQA, Portra 400; 3) Oak Creek Saddlery, RB67, Gold; 4) Olive Service, Kanosh, SQA, Portra 400. #believeinfilm

red astrachan apples, painted by amanda almira newton, 1909

red astrachan apples, painted by amanda almira newton, 1909

Here's another four favorite film images from '23. 1) A rock in Death Valley, YashicaMat 124G, Fuji 160NS; A wife in Death Valley, ditto; 3) The Thumb, Monument Valley, Bronica SQA, Lomo Turquoise; 4) Autumn in Zion, 124G, Ektar. #believeinfilm

As one who now lives in SW UT I can attest there is no shortage of interesting places to go. The national parks are quite busy, year-round anymore, but you can still find places to get away within them. There is plenty to see besides them as well.

You've got to avoid the ol' side-eye, for sure. Good luck with the search.

First gear purchase of the year is complete. A used 6x9 film back for the Crown Graphic 4x5 from CatLABS. I pulled a roll of Begger Pancro 400 from the fridge for the initial test run. Should be fun, especially given the 6" of snow we received overnight.

Check out MPB, they've got a number of 850s under $2k. If you don't need that many MP, there's the D780. Better yet, as a film camera replacement, there's always the Df, a classic winner if ever there was one.

Thanks, Dmitri. They may be my favorites too - don't tell the other two! 😉

Thanks, Steve. It's always fun to look back through the year's images. Not so easy to sort out favorites.