“If you want to become a better photographer, stand in front of more interesting stuff.”
- National Geographic photographer Jim Richardson (maybe)
I am a retired aquatic ecologist who takes photos while traveling by sailboat and camper van. I have always had an interest in photography and invested in a Sony Alpha 7C full frame mirrorless camera in November of 2022 (I already want an Alpha 7IV. sigh) and am slowly learning how to use it.
Looking through my photos, my interests in subject are apparently eclectic.
This website is a place to display what I consider the best, or at least the most interesting, of the thousands of photos I’m taking and share them with family and friends (and the occasional random stranger).
I am also trying to hone my almost non-existent portrait photography skills, but those will only be displayed if allowed by the subjects.
Why is this website called Chimaera Contemplations? See below
Out in the middle of Badwater Basin, Death Valley National Park - photo taken on Bob’s iPhone
Why Chimaera Contemplations?
I started a blog on Blogger way back in 2007, which lasted until about 2010. I was reading a lot of blogs and decided to try my hand at it. I think this was a creative and emotional release for me and it can still be found HERE, albeit a little worse for wear. I took a lot of photos even back then.
Chimaera (also spelled chimera) has several definitions: A fire-breathing Greek monster that is part goat, part lion, and part serpent; a wild and unrealistic dream or idea; an organism that contains two or more genetically different tissues; a deep sea cartilaginous fish of the family Chimaeridae
Contemplation also has several definitions: the action of looking or gazing at something for a long time; deep reflective thought; the state of being thought about or planned; concentration on spiritual things as a form of private devotion
Yeah, not that last one (see my original blog )
I tried to re-vamp the blog on Wordpress in early 2023 to try and possibly showcase and organize some of my photos - and quickly ran out of steam. That blog has been moved here, and I will still add to it occasionally, but this website is designed more for photos.