About a year ago, I picked up the Widelux F6, a 35mm panoramic camera that kind of behaved like both a manual camera and a point-and-shoot. Despite its quirks, the price was right, and the urge to experiment was irresistible. Initially, the camera's focusing mechanism was a source of both admiration and frustration. Yet, as I became familiar with its idiosyncrasies, I grew to appreciate its simplicity and the fresh perspectives it offered...

..... after that, however, I felt compelled to push the camera's boundaries further. I needed to justify my investment and prove that this was more than just a novelty with a few tricks up its sleeve. Inspired by David Hockney, I began to experiment with stitching images together in a cohesive and whimsical fashion.

The process of creating these photo collages quickly became second nature. The final compositions serve as a vivid reminder that even familiar scenes can be transformed into something extraordinary by reimagining how the pieces fit together.

Like much of what I post on this blog, the content varies day by day. Often, I find myself staring at my monitor, overwhelmed by the sheer volume of possibilities that the internet holds, yet eager to contribute something meaningful. The thought of inspiring even a single person fuels my desire to continue sharing my work. If I manage to inspire, I believe I have fulfilled my role as both an artist and an educator.

This world is weird, yet how we can visually see that will determine how we come to understand it. At least that's what I think, among other things.

"What do you want for yourself going forward?" It's a question I often pose to my students as the year transitions into its reflective final phase, anticipating their uncertain attempts to answer. In these introspective times, I turn to the realm of creative expression for solace and insight. The panoramic images I’ve captured with the Widelux serve as a canvas for such reflections, urging me to retain a childlike curiosity and explore life through a different lens. I hope that retaining this creative curiosity is a habit my students will also adopt once they are free from the stresses of school life, if they haven't already.

Photography, much like any art form, invites us to pause and contemplate our current position and future direction. As we navigate through mist-shrouded roads or peer out from the warm, dimly-lit interior of a local ice cream shop, we are prompted to appreciate the simple, profound joys that stitch our daily experiences. Through this visual narrative, we may find the clarity or inspiration necessary to articulate our own journeys ahead. Amidst scenes of everyday tranquility and natural beauty, there emerges a call to reassess our goals and uncover answers to the questions we've yet to consider.

At least that's what I think, among other things.

I’ve been making progress with my experiments using a macro filter on my Widelux. As I’ve gotten better at managing the focal distance, the close-ups have become really fascinating! The filter adds a unique and intimate perspective to the panoramic format, transforming the way I see and capture small details within these wide frames.

Over the past few weeks, I explored creating diptychs using my Olympus Pen F film camera, which captures two photos on a single 35mm frame. This camera and aspect ratio is reletively new to me, and it pushed me to think intentionally about how pairs of images interact, creating visual narratives through contrast or flow. With roughly 72 shots per roll, I found myself slowing down, carefully considering each composition and how the images might relate to one another. It also encouraged me think differently on how to approach portraiture, thinking that since I am using a half-frame camera, why not half-portraits? It was exciting to frame scenes differently, anticipating how one image would complement or challenge the next.

Sometimes when I find myself stretched too thin, I'll take out a point and shoot camera and just capture what's around me as the week goes on. There's something relieving about letting go of control and perfection, allowing the spontaneous to take over. As Daido Moriyama would say, "what I feel with my body is more important than the technicalities of photography," and in those moments, I connect more deeply with the world around me, free from overthinking.

From time to time, I crave the simple act of creating—without expectation, without perfection, just for the sake of it. As artists, it's easy to get caught up in the demands of daily life and let our creative energy fade into the background. I've spent years putting off projects, waiting for the "right moment," but I’ve realized that creativity doesn’t always need grand gestures or perfect conditions to flourish. And so, I introduce the void of the internet to a new photo journal I am calling "Among Other Things."  This is my way of showing that art can still take root in the small, everyday moments we often overlook.

Every now and then, hopefully, I'd like to share photos paired with a few thoughts on what inspired me, whether profound or mundane. It’s a reminder that creativity can thrive even when life is busy—sometimes, it’s enough just to show up and create something, among other things.

These first images come from my Widelux panoramic camera, where I’ve been experimenting with a custom macro glass I fitted into an empty filter frame. Without a mirror system viewfinder, it’s been frustrating at times to guess the focal distance, but these shots mark a turning point—one of the first moments I’ve started to get a feel for it.