I have this curiosity about earthquakes. It is one of a few dangerous natural occurrences that I want to experience first hand. Growing up in the midwest I’ve been around massive thunderstorms my whole life. I’ve seen tornadoes, been in blizzards, been hit with golf ball-sized hail, watched fields of grass burn from a lightning strike, hell I’ve actually seen lightning strike the top of a car on the highway.

I have never felt anything like an earthquake though, not even a tremor.

Apparently Illinois had an earthquake this morning. A 5.2 quake they say, with tremors felt nearly 450 miles away. Everybody I’ve talked to today is focused on these tremors. Everyone I’ve talked to today, felt these tremors.

“Did you feel them?” they ask me.

I have to report, over and over again that no, I did not. Do you know why I missed out on this life-changing, ground-shaking event?

I was asleep.

The Sandman decided that today David Bickley - a generally light sleeper - would not wake up when the rest of the city felt the ground move. Oh no sirs, he would stay sound asleep dreaming of being a superhero, completely oblivious to this life-altering event.

I’m tired of the lack of earthquake experience in my life.

I’m going to San Francisco, where the earthquakes flow like wine.

Adios.

I’ve been itching to try something “new” for a while, and after weeks of searching I actually came right back around to the very beginning of things. I opted to buy a new medium format film camera. For those of you that may be unfamiliar with the term “medium format” I’ll tell you the biggest difference. A medium format camera uses a film that is about 4 times larger than the standard (35mm) stuff you find at walmart. This means (among other things) that you can make a much larger print from it.

Well, I went and bought a Holga 120N. This little thing is a cult phenomenon. It’s a very cheap camera (mine was about $30) and made entirely of plastic, that includes the lens which is also plastic. The Holga is also extremely unpredictable and no two are alike. They leak light, and have no real precision with regard to the shutter or aperture.

Perfect.

So, I bought one and a good amount of color and black/white film. I also made sure to ask for expired film just so I could make doubly sure that I would have no real clue as to what to expect.

So I took about 24 snapshots in a number of different conditions to get a feel for how it would work.

Overall, I’m pretty happy so far. The expired Ilford black and white film I bought produced extremely low contrast images. That particular result could have been better but, oh well. I’m going to fire a few color rolls tomorrow with a modification I made to the camera and see what happens.

I’ll be sure to post “Day 2″ as soon as I get the film back.

I wanted to take a break from my projects today, to tell you all a little story about my morning.

It started like any other morning. I tossed and turned moments before my alarm went off just like any other day. When the alarm did go off, I went across the room and hit the snooze just like any other day. I did this several times over the course of a half hour, just like any other day. When I finally did get out of bed, I shuffled around my house in half-sleeping “zombie mode”, again just like any other day.

As I continued my morning routine, I ended up in the bathroom to get ready for my glorious day. This, my friends was not like any other day. You see, last night my lovely fiancé moved some things around. So on this beautiful seemingly normal morning, something devious lay in wait.

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Last time I wrote I said that next time we would talk about new years resolutions. That next time is this time today. I actually have not had the time until now to really think about what I wanted from, or what I would do during this new year. So, although we are halfway into the first month of another year, I figure that now is as good of a time as any to nail it down for certain.

1. I will write in this blog at least once a week.

2. The new sections of my site will be up before the end of February.

3. I will go and take photos for myself at least once a week.

4. I will read at least two new books a month.

I know these aren’t the standard “I will lose a billion pounds” or “I will save more money” types of commitments. Let’s face it, New Year’s resolutions have become something that we all know we won’t do. People say the same thing every year. So, my fifth and final resolution is to actually keep the commitments I have made to myself.

Now, if I could only find the time to get started.

Anyone want to get started inventing a time machine for me?

No?

Think about it.

- David Bickley, Professional Photographer

Well friends, it’s been a bit hectic over here as I’m sure it has been for you all too. The holidays have a tendency to do that. As a result, I am running a bit behind schedule with the rest of the overhaul for davidbickley.com. It will be live soon though, rest assured…

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Today, I leave the office briefly and who is waiting for me when I get back? Yeah, you guessed it. Ninja Duck is waiting. (more…)