Rucking

As mentioned as a possibility in (the joy of walking)[./the-joy-of-walking], I’ve been doing a little weighted walking. Given the current lock-down situation that’s just been while dog walking.

I’ve started with a 10kg weight in my normal backpack, so no investment required. I’ve probably been doing a mile or two on the evening walk. So far I’ve not taken weight every day, nor to a precise schedule, sometimes a few days in a row, sometimes odd ones.

It’s still early days on the impact it’ll have, but it feels good. Not that that necessarily means much. But by all accounts it should strengthen back and shoulders, which I need, as well as over all improvements.

I think my next plan is to get to the stage where I can follow the GORUCK light training plan for starters. That aims to get you ready for a GORUCK Light event. While I won’t necessarily be doing that, it does provide a framework of increasing distance. First step is “ruck pt” a couple of times a week, alongside rucking on the dog walk a few times. I’ll follow another suggestion to add either a mile or 5lb a week, when I feel up to it. Likely a few weeks of getting used to it first.

Photography in 2020

So far 2020 has not been a terribly high output year. Mostly I’ve made instant photographs. I’m not sure I’ve actually used any non-instant camera.

Moving house hasn’t helped, with the delays a lot of gear has been boxed for a while. It’s to the point where I’m thinking about what I need/want going forward.

I’ve contemplated the possibility of moving to instant and large format exclusively. I also contemplate other kinds of cameras. This is all an angst I’ve gone over in (Photographic GAS)[./photographic-gas]. For now I think nothing permanent, either buying or selling.

However I should concentrate on a small set of things to do. Following on from (Making Prints)[./making-prints], I think that’s large format for negative work. I’m need to work on the darkroom options, but the scanning will be easier to start with at least.

I’ve contemplated something like Gregg Obst’s (4x5 for 365)[https://www.flickr.com/photos/greggobst/13189159274]. Not sure I’m ready for that quite yet. Not least the turnaround time. Maybe when the darkroom’s setup. But a lighter weight version might be good. A photo a week from the previous month perhaps. Something that’s been printed ideally. I’m not sure where to share it, I’ll explore the options.

Meanwhile I think the plan is to start making large format photos and developing them. Plus some instant photographs no doubt.

Making Prints

I’ve been thinking about how to start printing without a huge enlarger and in not that much space. While there is the possibility of expanding and making room for something better, for now either contact prints or the Intrepid Enlarger might be it.

Contact Prints

Contact prints lend themselves to the larger formats, which I’m getting more interested in, which is a bonus. That said, 4x5 (or 5x4, I can never remember which) is small for this. Later this may lead to a 5x7 (or 8x10), but for now I think the solution is postcards, partly inspired by Andrew Bartram.

4x5 on a 4x6 postcard leaves a little ugliness around the edge, but for the right photo I think it can work, especially if the edging gets printed to black. These could likely be daylight developed in the tank I already have, but trays I think are better for learning.

However away from the now non-existent Azo/gaslight paper, this still requires an enlarger to throw the light. That said a 35mm one would do at that point.

Enlarger

The alternative is using the large format camera I have as an enlarger. This has the advantage of making enlargements, not requiring much in the way of volume of stuff. It is likely to be cheaper that a large format enlarger (and even perhaps a 35mm one). It also satisfies the ability to contact print, as well as enlarge smaller formats.

A plan

Either way there’s a few things to think about first:

• Where I can setup (I.e. where can be made dark).
• What kit is needed (and what it’ll cost).
• Where it will go when not in use.

So step 1 to think about those. Once I have some answers comes up with a minimal set of things to do/buy and start from there. In a show of synchronicity the following article appeared recently how to build a darkroom for £100 or less, based on a 35mm enlarger, which are cheaper than I thought. This article and series should help in the working out the what I need, and possibly which option to go for. Space will still remain the other deciding issue I imagine.

Starting Piano

Well I’ve made a start on the piano. I ordered an electric piano and have set that up in the study.

For learning, I’ve been contemplating the options. Piano Dreamers have a more detailed article than I could write here. Given the inability to go to a teacher at the moment that’s out. I may look into an online live lesson, but at the moment it’s looking to be either app based or video based.

I started with Bill Hilton’s Piano For Beginners YouTube series. I’m only a handful of lessons in, but seems great so far. I have diverted via some of the other recommended videos. I suspect I’ll be buying his book(s) eventually.

Current thought is run through that series, and maybe take a look at some of the apps with free trials at the same time, and see which I get on with (if any). I’ll play it by ear as to which method is successful, or if a teacher is required.

Certainly a new and exiting journey that I’m beginning. I’ll update as I go with how it’s all going.

Working From Home

Working from home is something I’m rapidly learning. With the edict to work from home where possible to slow the spread of Covid-19 my employer decided to send us all home, and close the office. Luckily we can work from home, and will continue to do so, unlike others whose income is more at risk in the short term.

There is definitely things to learn when working from home the whole time. The lack of common areas with colleagues makes ad-hoc, spontaneous conversation harder. Meetings are all virtual, which so far seems fine. The boundary between home and work needs to be maintained. In general it’s a transition and an adjustment. Lots of people are going through it. Lots of companies have been doing it for years.

It is odd having the commute being up the stairs. Thankfully we recently moved, so have space for a separate work area. The silver lining is the (lack of) commute. From the environmental, cost and time perspectives this is a benefit. Here’s hoping the realisation that working from home works, will lead to less travel in the future.

What I want to do is work out what to do with the time gained from not commuting. I think I should use the time for some of the learning and activity that has fallen by the wayside, or that I’d planned and not done. In essence to do the things I want to do, but struggle to find the time to. The short list so far is:

1. Get back to running, handstands and weights. This has fallen aside a little with illness and moving house. Seems like a good time to start “running to work” on occasion. Unfortunately given the one exercise a day rule, that may have to be with the dog.
2. Get back to actually developing and scanning film. The printing might be harder, but still possible.
3. Take up piano, as planned previously. Teaching may be more difficult, but I’m sure there’s online learning resources available.

So in short there’s much learning ahead, both how to work remotely from colleagues, and on a personal level, with the extra time I should have.

The Joy of Walking

I enjoy a good walk. Both the more formal “hike” and the flâneur style wander. Mostly however I walk the dog, and walk to shops. I feel I should do more of the others though.

I like a solo walk, and a group walk. Both are different, the former allows time for the mind to wander. I’ve done some of my best thinking on my feet. A tricky problem has often been solved while walking. Group walks on the other hand allow the flow of conversation, breaks and restarts. They can be less confrontational, as you’re talking side-by-side.

I think there should be more acknowledgement that walking and working aren’t mutually exclusive. Maybe we should have meetings on the move. I certainly have taken a walk in the day to just think about a knotty problem, which I think should be encouraged more.

Walking is also good exercise, I seem to niggle and injure myself running, so am contemplating not doing that so much. I may, however, start doing some weighted walking (rucking, c.f. The Benefits of Rucking) Possibly just chucking some weights in on the dog walk. Possibly going out specifically.

I do think I’m going to try and do more walking though. Longer dog walks for example, and more flâneuring.