Zuiko - PhotoTrice

Texas Pastimes

Fixin to Smoke - Floore Country Store — Fixin to Smoke – Floore Country Store

There are a few things in Texas where bragging rights are important. One of those is football, all the way from high school to the pros. Another is Texas barbecue.

Almost all the old barbecue establishments in Texas actually started out as meat markets. They had a steady clientele for fresh meats and prepared smoked meats as a sideline. That changed as local butchers gave way to supermarkets. Now most places only sell smoked meats. In this part of the country, barbecue is usually smoked beef or sausage. Some places will also have pork, turkey or chicken but beef is king here.

While the quality of barbecue across the state is universally excellent, styles differ regionally. A lot depends on the woods available for smoking. Different woods have a profound effect on the final quality of smoked meats. Not just any wood will do. Many smokers source their wood from specific geographical locations and suppliers.

In the end it is the skill and knowledge of the pit master that determines the quality of the barbecue. To a casual observer it may seem that you can learn to smoke meats in an afternoon. Not so. Pit masters generally learn their art through an informal apprenticeship that can last years. The skills of the master are passed on with serious dedication and understanding that it is best not to tinker with the product.

Make mine moist brisket with some burnt ends and a couple of links. It is always best served market style on butcher paper with a slice or two of white bread, onions and pickles.

Against the Storm

Springtime weather is always unsettled in North America. This year is no exception. Strong weather sweeps in from the Pacific acting as catalyst, mixing warm moisture from the Gulf of Mexico and cold Canadian air. It is a rather explosive combination which brings predictable destruction to the continent. North America is bound together by natural forces.

Those in the Midwest know the routine and keep a weather eye open. Early yesterday, before dawn, a storm front swept through Texas with high winds and copious amounts of rain. We were lucky, the storms broke north and south leaving us with just a couple of inches of rain. Another storm will follow along in due course; Maybe not so lucky next time.

The wind chime hangs on the edge of my porch facing South and West into the oncoming weather. I’m not a superstitious person but I understand the value of a talisman to act as guardian. There is something ancient in warding off danger with a carved stick or even a small metal bell. Being human, in the face of natural violence, I hedge my bets.

Project Year – One Third Done

I’m now about one third done with my project to shoot with legacy lenses for a year. Using forty plus year old optics full time on a Sony A7II may seem a little unusual. It is a different approach to digital photography and not something to do without planning. For me it is worth doing. Those old lenses are inexpensive and some even give excellent results.

Images captured with legacy lenses often have a different look than those captured with modern optics. Lenses for film cameras were designed using analog methodologies and manufactured with less precise tooling. That gives them what some enthusiasts call ‘character’. When adapted to digital cameras they often render images with unique qualities. That is not to say better qualities than modern lenses.

So far all my project images have been shot with one of four prime lenses in the range of 28-135mm. Not much reach considering I shot many images at 200mm with my X-T1. That would be a field of view around 300mm with the full frame A7II. Using prime lenses with just four available focal lengths has caused me to adapt the way I visualize images. That along with manual lens control has forced me to work slower. I’ve been shooting fewer frames with better results.

The first third of the project has not been as productive as I’d hoped. My time shooting in the field has been less over the last few months than any time in recent years. I expect that to change. I will be shooting more in the Texas Bend as well as around San Antonio in the coming months. Just for starters Día de Muertos is in a couple of weeks. That is always interesting to photograph.

To sum up, the project has exceeded my expectations. I’m enjoying my time with the camera and shooting better images. That makes the project a success to this point. I expected using legacy lenses would be a burden but I like the control they give me. Also the lenses I’m using are producing good results. What’s not to like?