Made a point to keep it simple on this trip. Tossed the 50mm 1.4 on and left everything else behind on several occasions.  Just out playing tourist, snapping silly images of whatever the day brought us.  It’s been a while since I’ve just gone on a walk around with a camera and it was refreshing to just play, rather than being so focused on some image in particular.   Limiting your technological options forces creativity and frees you to see the world vs. searching your bag.  Nothing does this better than a prime lens, forcing you to move your feet and interact with your surroundings and nothing does this for a better bargain than a 50mm.  Fast, cheap, light and most importantly…fun.  Sometimes it’s enough to just play tourist.

]]> http://chadspector.com/blog/2010/08/31/50mm-walk/feed/ 0 http://chadspector.com/blog/2009/09/30/aspens/?utm_source=subscriber&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss http://chadspector.com/blog/2009/09/30/aspens/#comments Wed, 30 Sep 2009 07:39:14 +0000 admin http://chadspector.com/blog/?p=164

Spent the weekend in Durango, CO and while most of it ended up at the bottom of an Oktoberfest stein there was some fantastic color on display.   Before heading back to Zion Tonka and I snuck off to catch sunrise this morning on top of Coal Bank / Molas Pass.  The clouds that had gathered the night before had vanished which was a real photo-op bummer but I thought this image conveyed the enormity of the Aspen stands that grace the San Juan mountains.

Dawn on Coal Bank Pass

First Light on Molas Pass

Standing at 10,910 ft.

If anyone is looking for some epic color in Utah right now the west side of Soldiers Summit closer to Spanish Fork on 6 is just exploding with Oak and Maple.  With the snow on the way the contrast should be just out of this world.  There is some gnarly construction going up there so consider yourself warned.  I would have stopped but came through mid-day and taking pics would have been worthless with the light.

]]> http://chadspector.com/blog/2009/09/30/aspens/feed/ 0 http://chadspector.com/blog/2009/09/26/ska-true-blonde-ale-el-rancho/?utm_source=subscriber&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rss http://chadspector.com/blog/2009/09/26/ska-true-blonde-ale-el-rancho/#comments Sun, 27 Sep 2009 03:52:07 +0000 admin http://chadspector.com/blog/?p=185

There’s been a great deal of talk about the “best camera” being the one that’s with you.  By all accounts this is truth, but sometimes it’s best to have the best camera with you.  I dragged the 1dmk3 with a 50mm f/1.4 through a long afternoon of Oktoberfest consumption and am really glad I did.

The greatest bar in the world, El Rancho in Durango, CO.