Return to Sherman Library and Garden

I have to admit, I've been remiss. During the long months of the pandemic, I was hunkering down at home, depressed and scared and with little motivation to go out and do anything because I was sure the virus was just waiting for me. Then, I delved deeply back into film photography, and started ordering more and more emulsions and taking out my old and, yes, somewhat antiquated cameras. I neglected my Nikon DSLRs and had them hidden in my old backpack. Lately, though, when I consider the frustration I feel with rolls, especially with my 3D printed cameras which seem like real prima-donnas, I find myself missing the ease of use of my digital equipment. So I started taking it out again, because it has been almost a year and it was time to do something different. Also, the expense of film was really adding up.

Here are a few DSLR photos taking with my Nikon D750. I have to admit, I was "chimping" like in the old times, but I loved the fact that I could adjust exposures and not have to wait nervously for a week or more to receive my developed rolls from the film labs, only to find my hopes crashing. I love this garden, although it was only the second time I have visited. No, I didn't take any cellphone, these are big digital files, and I took over 250 photos. I am uploading only a few. The light was not the best, we had harsh bright light because we are in another heat wave in southern California, and temperatures are near or above the 80 degree Fahrenheit range. But I did what I could, although many of the colors look washed out to me. 

The garden is located deep in conservative Orange County. There are very wealthy and conservative sectors, and this one qualifies as such. One could still see large Trump banners flying over some of the ultra-rich domains of the people who live there, and afterwards, I drove down to the Corona del Mar beach only to find way too many (white) people who think they are invulnerable and who don't bother to wear facemasks. It made me very, very uncomfortable. But the garden was another domain, and people wore masks and kept their distance.