The Arizona Biltmore

The Arizona Biltmore

I’ve always wanted to photograph the grounds. As a young teenager, my friends father, Tommy Reed had an orchestra. I would help him set up his father’s equipment in the ballroom. I just remember the place being so opulent, beautiful.

This is the first time I’ve been there with a camera. I’m definitely gonna go back, but if anything, I’m gonna go back and have a drink, this place is super cool. I live in Phoenix, I want to stay here for the weekend. If not anything but to have dinner, relax by the pool and just live for a moment in luxury.

FrankLloydWright.com Though the extent of Wright’s involvement with this project remains unclear, the Arizona Biltmore Hotel and Cottage complex is generally recognized as a collaboration between Wright and Albert Chase McArthur, a former draftsman in Wright’s Oak Park studio.

It is amazingly aesthetic, magnificently luxurious, the staff are accepting and nice. I pulled up to the guest check in with my Forester, “Hi, I’m here to take a few photos…” and the gentleman pointed a few car lengths away, “Park there” and I grabbed my stuff. “Keys please” and I asked him for a tab, “ Your taking pictures, you don’t need a receipt.” We laughed and I tossed him my keys.

The Arizona Biltmore

                           

ASU Gammage

ASU Gammage

ASUGammage Website

AF Nikkor 50mm f1.4 D

The F6 and the AF Nikkor 50mm f1.4D with the F3 and the Nikkor 50mm f1.2 AIS in the background 

 

AF Nikkor 50mm f1.4 D
s/n: 4025747

My first SLR had a 50mm lens, now, my favorite manual focus lens is the Nikkor 50mm f1.2 AIS. It is a normal perspective to what our eyes see. My next favorite is the Nikkor 50mm f1.8 AIS - Japanese Pancake Version and the Nikkor 50mm f1.4 AIS. I have owned two or three Nikon Series E 50mm f1.8 AIS. It’s a really normal view of the world through a nice 50mm lens.

I purchased this one from a professional photographer, he handed it to me standing there in his pajamas and robe, literally less than twenty four hours back from Tunisia and Saudi Arabia on assignment, “It’s a good one!” “Yes, I know.” 

I told him, “I like it because it is compatible with my F3, F6 and D780.”

My scrutiny for purchases very tight, I already have the Nikkor 50mm f1.2 AIS which will fit the three cameras above however I want a dedicated AF prime 50mm. At least three of my zoom lenses cover the 50mm focal length in addition I have a and I used to own the AF Nikkor 50mm f1.8 D and last but certainly not least, I currently own the AF-S Nikkor AF-S 50mm f1.8 G FX. That lens, as tack sharp as it is, well, it’s about to be culled from the quiver. It’s a gelded lens, a G series, no aperture ring, electronic aperture control, although the lens will fit the F3, it can only be used at the maximum (smallest size) setting. Not what I want out of my kit.

To be clear, I’m moving towards reducing my kit to a minimum of overlap and as few gelded lenses as possible. The only one I plan to keep is the AF-S Nikkor 14-24 f2.8 G ED FX which is a sick beast of a lens that is so damn badass…

That’s six different prime 50mm lenses, this AF Nikkor 50mm f1.4 D is the seventh 50mm prime.

Why so many?

It’s what I know as a normal view, a normal picture. 

That is an important perspective for me to include in my kit. I have a specialized Manual Focus 50mm prime lens for the F3. It’s always on this camera. And then an Auto Focus 50mm prime that I can also use as a Manual Focus 50mm prime. The Nikkor 50mm f1.2 AIS and the F3 are inseparable. If one goes, they both go and they are not going anywhere. The AF Nikkor 50mm f1.4 D could replace it, but it’s not.

I did this on purpose, I wrote the above to show two things, one, to show how a lens junky thinks and describes his reasoning and two, to show just how important this lens actually is. One small switch takes it from AF to MF, someone that did not know would miss it.

The aperture ring lock “switch” for Auto Focus.

I’ll go ahead and hit publish to post the page. I’ll follow up with some pictures out of my F6. That’s the camera this one is going to be stuck on…

Resources

AF Nikkor 50mm f1.4 D

camera | lens | film | flash

Every Day Carry

   

Pocket Size ~ Analog Back-Up

Wallet
iPhone
Fisher Space Pen
Big Idea Lookout Knife - Badstitch Goods Leather Sheath
Olight Flashlight

Phone - wallet - keys - knife - Chapstick, oh, my flashlight pretty much that’s it. 

I carry the usual stuff in my wallet, usually a couple of folded twenty’s or a single Benjamin. My wallet is a folded zippered type, I carry a few finance cards, proof of insurance, voter ID, AZDL and a thin thumb drive called a “Paper Clip.”

I carry a terabyte iPhone 16 Pro. I make my web site on it and also on my iPad Air but that’s not on my person, it at home used everyday, or at the hotel, on a trip. But it is cool, making this site on two mobile devices. A few pages have mucho detail, like 70-80 pics organized, shrunk down thumbnails and presented neatly for a slide show. Lots of one finger pecking, keystrokes…

Wait wait wait… errday carry.

It’s dry here, relative humidity can be single digit for days in the winter. My lips won’t get chapped if I use Chapstick.

I carry a small leather sheathed fixed blade, clipped and carried inside my R front pants pocket. It’s a utility knife and I use it for opening packages, boxes, I use it to cut stuff. Too small for defense, that’s what the Glock is for, just kidding… really, not really.

I don’t carry my Glock. If I live by the gun, I die by the gun. I do shoot for fun though. My G-19 is a toy, a very serious and dangerous toy, my grown up badass BB gun.

Anyway

If I’m going to work, I carry a single office key to gain backdoor access in a secured area.

A couple of times a week I carry my 2 year planner that fits in my pocket.

I used to carry a Nikon FG with a 50mm f1.8 AI-S JP pancake version lens. But I don’t carry that anymore. I got rid of it. Film photography now gets my F6 and the de jour lens, the D780 is my everyday image maker.

My everyday carry changes but the list here is the basis of what I have on me or carry and further what I carry in my car.

I’ve got equipment list that is in my Subaru Forester, it’s always in the car. Everyday car carry. A small table, two camp chairs, stove, cooking stuff, a water jug, small shovel, a moving blanket, a grip with a change of clothes and a lightweight summer sleeping bag. Quick overnight camp stuff. In the summer, I remove the gas canister, it gets oven hot and I don’t want it exploding while parked in the sun. I bring a canister when I travel out of town.

A couple of flares, a 110v converter, a few tools and that’s about it.

Everyday carry on me? That’s the above. Everyday carry in the car, below.

What do you carry?

AF Nikkor 20-35mm f2.8 D

     

Notes: The above photos are literally the first set of pictures through this lens. I mounted it on my D780 and took it to work. It was a glorious winter day, post frontal, clear air, a 5/8th sky. This is going to be an amazing lens in my kit. I am really happy with it.

AF Nikkor 20-35mm f2.8 D  ~ Nikkor Crinkle Finish Lenses
s/n: 208631

Another Crinkle Finish Lens in my quiver! That’s right, the AF Nikkor 20-35mm f2.8 D. I secured it for wide angle duties. I have a AF-S Nikkor 14-24 f2.8 G ED FX if I want to go to wider zoom. The G stands for gelded, or aperture ring removed, electronic aperture control only to save on production costs. The D stands for Distance as in focus and flash info. As far as G lenses go, the 14-24 and the AF-S Nikkor 28-300mm f3.5-5.6 G ED VR FX are probably the only two gelded lenses I’m going to keep. Not that I enjoy selling even more of my quiver but what I’ve already collected has helped me learn. I know enough now about how I want to set up my kit. I do enjoy the acquisition of a new lens, yet I’m not a big fan of too many choices. I want the Goldilocks kit, just right.

While some restrict theirselves to primes, I don’t. Maybe someday, I don’t think that day will come. I do have a favorite prime yet I really enjoy having a few primes wrapped in one lens. Don’t like a zoom? Keep it at one focal length. It’s not the same? Great, neither are the pictures I take. I spend far too much time worrying about things that don’t matter. In this case, the crinkle series of lenses are a mixture of zoom and prime. I am an advanced amateur photographer and I blog about my experiences for me. Writing this is a self reflection, a photo diary so to speak. I’m tracking my progress, doing things my way yet I’m not going rogue or breaking any rules. I like what I like and I like the crinkle lens type.

The 20-35mm f2.8 is a familiar focal range. I’ve done quite a bit of street photography with a Nikkor 20mm f2.8 AIS and some landscapes with the Nikkor 35mm f1.4 AIS. Both are great lenses. Now I have a that I can pack in both with a bit of creative license. The AF 20-35mm f2.8 D has a great history according to Ken Rockwell. We have passed a few e-mails reflecting on our web sites. His web site. which is very much like my style of blog is crazy just as he has said. The big difference is his web site is commercial whereas mine is not. We started doing this at just about the same time and his information is excellent. Of course, he has an opinion, as I do. He is an innovator and he also writes well. Much of what he writes has helped me with my own journey. His advice hits and where he misses? He doesn’t. I like a couple of lenses that he does not. I still own one because it is compact and I like what I produce with it but two of the three I have are actually on the chopping block. I use his work as a guide, a solid honest body of work that I respect. I typically include his links as a resource, I suggest a look if you are considering this lens for use.

With all that being said, I bought mine from the original online auction house choosing a Japanese seller. Ken also gives great advice on how to acquire equipment and save money. I chose this lens for the lack of wear in the pictures, the complete accessory kit (filter, caps and hood) but also the 100% rating. My experience is even if the lens arrives with less than a perfect description, the seller will do what he can to earn your rating or return the item. I’ve had a few bad experiences made good by following advice when purchasing online. Bad descriptions, bad photos, poor performance. But for the most part, I end up with what I wanted and am able to use without compromise or complaint.

The AF 20-35mm f2.8 D has been no exception to that yet it is an exceptional lens.

       

Resources

Ken Rockwell - AF Nikkor 20-35mm f2.8 D

camera | lens | film | flash