It was that kind of day. Adventures of an unsupervised photographer.

I'll start out with the bleak news and we'll get that behind us quickly. I went out for a walk through downtown this morning and I took my cute little Leica DLUX8. I had it all tricked out with a cool half case that has an integrated handgrip, and I have a thumb grip on the back side of the camera to facilitate one handed shooting and also provide a cool look to the rig. Things were progressing smoothly until I realized that I had forgotten to tighten the screw on the bottom of the half case which adheres it securely to the camera body. At some point, while the camera swung lazily on its strap over my left shoulder, the friction with my shirt, enhanced by my ripped muscles, caused the case to fall off. And where and when it fell off I have no real idea. But when I was near the end of the walk I pulled the camera up for the above selfie and... yikes! .... the case had disappeared. So tragic. But I guess it was largely vestigial if I didn't notice its loss while making photographs. Perhaps my focus on the "ART" is so laser-like that I am able to compartmentalize and ignore all distractions while in the process of creation. From whole cloth. Like a painter.

You buy some, you lose some. That's life. Yes, I chastened myself for a while and then realized that I could just order another one and in all likelihood it will be on the camera by tomorrow, midday. One of the few advantages of modern life. Well, in addition to vaccines and penicillin. Oh, and air conditioning. 

But case or no case you have to admit that the new bucket hat, hauled back from the recent trip to Chicago, is just perfect for a full on photo nerd. Right? And I don't even play golf. But it's the perfect hat for a golf outing. But, I'm not currently a golfer... Although I played two rounds with famous athletes a while back. One with "Sugar" Ray Leonard and one with Dave Robinson. Both at corporate events and both at Barton Creek Country Club. "Sugar" Ray was a lousy golfer but a great story teller. He insisted on driving the cart. Robinson was a very good golfer and he had his own cart. So, good hat for golf, but no golf these days. Why? Because I would only play if the games were paid for by major corporations. Of course. 

The hat and golf stories also remind me of the time I was photographing a golf event for an enormous tech company. They'd hired Ben Crenshaw and Tom Kite to be part of the event. I set up with them on the 7th hole T-box of the Fazio Course at Barton Creek. They were tasked with teaching each foursome that came by a few technical moves, then watch and critique the amateur players' strokes, and then have a group photograph made by me of the foursome with the pros. 

Something broke down in the tournament play. I think it was a couple of foursomes who had never played golf before but decided, "what the heck? how hard could this be?" and decided to make their virgin attempt at golf that morning. Tom, Ben and I had a lot of time on our hands waiting for the backed-up foursomes to arrive. They asked me about my game and I hemmed and hawed and, sensing that they were both bored, told them that I had the world's worst drive. They instantly smiled and lightened up and called the clubhouse to order a big bucket of ball be brought over. Then they proceeded to fill every schedule gap with an intensive course, two on one, on driving long shots over the lake in front of us. At first most of my shots made it accurately into the lake but as the day dragged on I got more and more of them over to the other side and nearer to the far off green. It was fun.

I was telling this story to a friend of mine who has been a lifelong, avid golfer. Almost to the exclusion of everything else in life. After hearing my tale he just frowned, shook his head and muttered, "That's like taking a gay man to a strip club." We have never discussed golf since... 

What memories a nice hat from a small camera store can bring back!! 

I had lunch yesterday with one of my favorite creative directors. A guy named, Greg. We've worked on projects together since 1988. That's a long time ago. I did yet another project for his company this last August. The one out in the heat at the real estate development. The one that finally cinched the idea of retiring from commercial work for good. 

I'd made a lunch reservation at a restaurant called, Salt Traders which specialized in "coastal cuisine." I made the reservation a while back because the place is always packed at lunch and I didn't want to wait around for a table. 

We had a very pleasant lunch and during our main courses I told him that I was "hanging up the serious business cameras and retiring from assigned advertising and public relations photography work." He asked me almost in a panic: "but who's going to do our portraits???" I told him to start looking at portfolios and websites. It's part of the process of turning a great client into a full time friend. He's a fine art painter on the side. My advice to him was to quit soon and become a full time painter. Both kids out of college, financially fine, bored with work. No better time to start planning the "glide path." 

Today, after my walk and the sad realization of my tragic case loss, I headed into the Whole Foods Flagship store at 6th and  Lamar Blvd. for a healthy lunch. What constitutes a healthy lunch? A serving of organic strawberries, a serving of freshly cut, organic mango chunks, a fun little collection of blueberries, some roasted zucchini, a smattering of roasted Brussel sprouts, a naughty tablespoon sized serving of mashed potatoes and about six ounces of baked fish. Washed down with....water.  About $10. Then I shopped for necessities to tide me over while my significant other is out of town. Greek yogurt, fresh blackberries, a ready made salad of kale, Brussel sprout shavings, cabbage etc. Oh, and a bottle of wine to take over to a friend's house tonight for a little dinner party. Love being invited by this couple because they are both incredible cooks. And artists. And I've known Will for about 50 years...

The only camera I took on the walk was the DLUX8. It's really a good camera. It should be for nearly $2,000. It's nice to be able to go wide and tight without carrying lots of heavy lenses. I've been shooting in the DNG setting and single frame. Only 12 bits of color but what the heck? Sony got away with 12 bits in some of its bestselling ICL camera over the last ten years. 

Here are some photos with captions:

For some reason some people like sunstars. Don't know why. Don't need to know why. But they write and ask me if the DLUX 8 has good sunstars. Like that's the most important feature of the camera. Like, if the sunstars are wrong, awkward or mischievous then the camera is all "DEAL-KILLER".

So when I see a bright line shining through something I go to town with apertures

like f11 and f16. The "forbidden" apertures that are sure to induce perilous diffractions. 

Not sure it's important in the grand scheme of things. It's the distraction of diffraction.

But there's a sample. 

Linear exploding background clouds. Cat napping along the railroad tracks.

currently wearing Birkenstocks with socks. They look perfect in concert with the bucket hat.

You probably can't tell but that's my shadow. I was following the sage advice of an online influencer who counseled putting the sun behind me for a better shot. I gave it a try. Fail!!!

Just waiting for the next Peter Lindbergh...

Okay. So let's talk restaurant prices. Does anyone else think $255 is too much to pay for a Tomahawk steak? Advertised at 36 ounces but you have to mentally subtract the weight of the bone as this dish is served "bone-in". And that's the pre-cooked weight. But still, jeepers! that's a lot to pay for one steak. Oh wait! I see! It includes seasonal vegetables. That makes everything okay...

This place has no reputation. No Michelin star. No glorious reviews. 

But man, they sure know how to put out a menu on steroids...

The gilded age comes to Austin--- with a vengeance. 

And watch out for that "Dry Aged Bone-in Ribeye" they've been keeping in the back of  the fridge for the last 40 days. Might want to order that one well done. Just sayin.  

Insensitive photographer probably doesn't even realize he lost his chic half case somewhere.

Too busy being scandalized by menus...

Mannequins welcome Fall Fashion. Ho hum. 

See all the destruction in the foreground?

That used to be our convention center. Now we have

no convention center. All the legit businesses in the area have closed down. 

It'll take years and years to replace the old structure. 

in the meantime all the potential convention customers will have found 

other venues. We're pretty dumb sometimes. 

The full time job of these folks is to sweep dust up into the air after the big trucks go by.

I coughed a lot. They must be doing a great job.

It's coming up soon. The Austin Day of the Dead Parade and Festival. 

Can't wait to sit in the office and try to decide which camera and lens to 

take with me. Hope it's cloudy and overcast. Last year it was 

super sunny and it was tough getting great shots. 

Well, tough for me. I'm sure someone else had it all figured out....

Who's up for swim practice tomorrow? Should be a doozy. 

counting down the days till my 70th birthday. 

Instead of dropping hints about what might constitute a nice gift

I'm sending links to products that might fill the bill. 

Hope my family and friends can read German.

Bucket hats with store logos. Birkenstock sandals with thick socks

De-cased Leicas. It's all scandalous.