Is Substack for me?

I didn’t grow up with social media. I grew up in an era when computers were uncommon and the (public) internet didn’t exist. For example, at the end of high school, I chose to attend a computing exam as part of baccalaureate, even though I had never had a lesson, my high school didn’t have a single computer, and it was one of the first years this could be done, so there was very little material about what to expect (I got 95% without ever knowing why I didn’t get 100%).

Rue du travail: forbidden. An attempt at social commentary.
Continue reading “Is Substack for me?”

Slains Castle

Slains Castle, in Northern Scotland. It is associated with the author Bram Stoker, who was a regular visitor to nearby Cruden Bay between 1892 and 1910. The castle is mentioned in his locally set novels, The Watter’s Mou’ and The Mystery of the Sea:

Slains Castle, Scotland: just stone walls.
Continue reading “Slains Castle”

Books

I have tons of books, some I inherited from my great-grandparents, but very few photos of them.

A few books

Canon 350D + Canon 17-55IS

#Photography #BlackAndWhite #BlackAndWhitePhotography #Books

Rocks in the sea

This is one of my favourite rocks in the sea photos. It was very transient as the tide was coming. A few minutes later they disappeared.

Long exposure of rocks in the sea

Canon 350D + Canon 17-55IS

#Photography #BlackAndWhite #BlackAndWhitePhotography #LongExposure #Sea

On Humility in Photography

There’s something jarring about seeing “Jane Smith Photography” splashed across social media bios and business cards, especially when the portfolio behind it consists of a handful of unremarkable shots taken last month.

There is nothing wrong with taking photography seriously, I do. I spent countless hours studying how people take photos and practicing. But declaring you’re “photography” is telling the world that you’ve arrived, you’re an expert worthy of being noticed and your stuff is worth buying (that usually comes hand in hand).

Monument over a valley on a frosty morning.
Continue reading “On Humility in Photography”

Rocks in the river

That river was flowing fast enough not to freeze.

Rocks in a flowing river surrounded by snowy mountains.

#Photography #BlackAndWhite #BlackAndWhitePhotography #Rocks #River #Snow #Mountains

Canon 5D + Canon 24-105ISL