I often just want to make images with nice colors, depth, etc.; but for more meaningful purposes.

There are times when I want to blur out the background or foreground, or when I need a longer focal length.  At those times I switch from the TG-6 to one of my other cameras, like the Pentax KP with the 18-135mm lens that I used to make the above.  I used that camera and lens to make these when I was setting it up for use as a walkabout camera for this fall and winter when I wish to do more than just make records of what I see with the TG-6.  I usually only use the TG-6 when I’m lazy or don’t feel like carrying a larger heavier camera or don’t expect to see anything.  If I’m really looking to make images I will take one of my Pentax cameras or the Fuji X100V.

I had watched a video about Saul Leiter for the umpteenth time when I decided to see what I could do with images made from a DVD played on my computer.  The following is an example.  Saul is my favorite  photographer.  I love the video, In No Great Hurry.  If you haven’t seen it I encourage you to watch it.  Saul was quite a character.  He also liked to paint and sometimes painted over a print of one of his pictures.  I also have one of his books with his early B&W and later color photographs (most made when I was still in high school) as well as many of his paintings.  He lived almost 60 years in the same apartment building in NYC and photographed the same blocks over that time.

Oh well, back to my situation.  I have been looking at Saul’s images and life for ideas. None of my cameras, or lenses, solves my main problem: what to photograph.  Some photographers recommend that I get out of my comfort zone and go someplace and/or get creative.  Odd to think of it that way … “get out of my comfort zone.”  I’m not at all comfortable where I am at this time and I don’t think I’ll be comfortable anywhere again, at least not soon.  I just need to extend my uncomfortable zone to other areas or ideas.