Beluga Point (Alaska – July 2023)

We pulled over at Beluga Point, a rocky outpost jutting into the waters of Turnagain Arm, on our way to Girdwood. The place is named for the white whales that are often spotted from this location as they make their way up and down the inlet. Belugas are supposedly seen from mid-July through August when salmon are running in Cook Inlet. Although we were there in late July, we saw nothing. In addition to the beluga, supposedly you can see the black fins of orcas as they pursue the white belugas.

Fortunately, we did see orcas a few days later south of Seward.

July 18th, 2026 | Tags: landscape, NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR lens, Nikon Z 50 Z50, pacific ocean | Category: Alaska | Comments Off on Beluga Point

“Perpetual Ending” by the French contemporary artist Zevs

For generations, the Blower Shed of the Völklingen Ironworks knew nothing but a relentless, ear-splitting crescendo. Massive gas-blowing engines and humming electric motors roared twenty-four hours a day, pushing thousands of cubic meters of air into the hungry bellies of the blast furnaces. The air inside was always thick—clogged with the bitter tang of sulfur, the biting heat of molten metal, and a constant, swirling rain of dark dust. Men worked here in twelve-hour shifts, their faces blackened, communicating only through frantic hand signals over the industrial din. To them, this hall was a living, breathing monster that never slept.

The place closed in 1986. The machines would never turn again, but in their quiet retirement, they had finally become art.

July 17th, 2026 | Tags: museums, NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR lens, Nikon Z 6II FX-Format Mirrorless Camera, Saarbrücken, Völklinger Hütte | Category: Germany | Comments Off on Happy Friday!

2027 Metal Magic Festival bands

It was painful to watch the 2026 Metal Magic Festival happen in only an online format (instead of live in person) last week. However, I always follow along and sort of pretend I am there. The fine management of the festival has already announced some of the 2027 bands. The list includes Armory, who I was fortunate to see seven years ago.

Armory @ 2019 Metal Magic Festival

July 16th, 2026 | Tags: AF-S DX NIKKOR 16-80mm f/2.8-4E ED VR DX lens, armory, concert photography, metal, metal magic festival, Nikon D500 | Category: Denmark | Comments Off on Armory to return to 2027 Metal Magic Festival

near Flåm (Norway)

July 15th, 2026 | Tags: Nikon 18-200mm VR II, nikon d7000, norway, norway in a nutshell | Category: Other | Comments Off on 15 years ago today…

Camping in Richardson Grove State Park (June 2023)

Today we will embark on our first camping trip with our adult children in at least a couple of years. We won’t be going to the place pictured above. Instead, we are off to Trillium Lake in Oregon.

July 14th, 2026 | Tags: california, NIKKOR Z 24-200mm f/4-6.3 VR lens, Nikon Z 50 Z50 | Category: Other | Comments Off on Gone camping